FC Pune City will kick-start their Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2018-19 campaign with a trip to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi to face the home team Delhi Dynamos FC on Wednesday. Stallions’ new head coach Miguel Portugal will return to the Lions’ home ground, but will be dictating commands on the other side of the touchline, hoping to mark a successful return with his possession-based style of play.

Ahead of the club’s season opener, indiansuperleague.com caught up for an exclusive interview with Pune’s custodian Vishal Kaith, who had a stellar 2017-18 and would be looking to further improve his short-stopping abilities between the posts this season. Here are the excerpts:

How are you feeling ahead of your season opener?

I’m doing good. Everyone from our side is fit and are trying to give 100 percent. Everyone is charged up for the game. 

On the mood in the camp.

Most of them are old players, but there are some new players who have come in. They are all good quality players. Everyone has been doing good in the pre-season. The new players who have come in are trying to rectify the defects from last season. 

On new head coach Portugal. 

New coach means new style. So, he has his own style of playing and prefers to keep possession of the ball. It's good. We are trying to adapt to his style and we will do good by playing that way this season. 

How much did you learn and grow as a player after last season?

Last season, I kept seven clean sheets and I learned a lot. This year I will try to be better than the last time. Last campaign, what I couldn’t do in the semi-final, I will try my best to do it this season.

On the match against Delhi Dynamos.

We have been waiting for this day. Players have been doing good in the pre-season. We hope for the best.

Miguel Portugal was the head coach of Delhi last season. Will that be an advantage?

Since he was at Delhi last season, he knows what to do and how to play against them. We will get help from him and for the rest, we will focus on his playing style.