Hyderabad FC will be on the lookout for their first points in the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) when they face Jamshedpur FC at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur on Tuesday.

Hyderabad FC’s Brazilian forward Marcelo Pereira joined indiansuperleague.com for an exclusive interview and spoke about his experience at his new club and facing off against an old friend in Jamshedpur. Here are excerpts from the interview.

New Hero ISL season and a new team (Hyderabad FC) for you, how are things shaping up?

I’m very proud to be here, very thankful to the owners and the coach for giving me a chance to be in India one more time. It’s a new fresh side, everything new, we are preparing the best we can, we have been provided everything possible to play good football. When new fresh sides come, they have some difficulties, but we will find solutions for everything, and with time we will be in perfect position to play good football.

What fans and Hyderabad FC can expect from you this season?

I have been in India for a long time. You can expect my skills and I will give my best for this club. I must reach my perfect condition as fast as I can. I’m very delighted to be here. I want to find the perfect fitness as fast as I can. You can expect goals, skills and my best in every match.

On how Hyderabad FC are looking to bounce back from the defeat to ATK?

Massive respect for ATK, I think they are prepared very well. When we started the pre-season, ATK were already training for three weeks. So, I think they prepared well for the match. We didn’t and weren’t at the same level. I think they were more ready for the beginning of the season. With the good coach they have, they deserved to win. The coach shouted at us, we need to wake up and be ready for the rest of the season.

On playing in front of a vocal Jamshedpur FC crowd.

I love the environment here. It's a new club, but for two years they have done everything perfectly. The stadium (JRD Tata Sports Complex) is very nice. The grass is perfect and in the past, I have played some good matches here, so I cannot wait for the match.

On your friendship with Jamshedpur FC’s Memo Moura.

Memo (Moura) is like my brother, we have been together in Delhi (Dynamos FC), we are always talking and messaging each other. I always joke with him and say, 'I’ll never lose to you.' If you see the previous matches, I’ve never lost to him. But we are professionals. He defends well for Jamshedpur FC. I am very happy because I admire him a lot and I hope we can play together again. So, it is nice, but a little bit strange because he is like my brother but sometimes, I need to confront him (while playing against each other). But that is a part of the game.

Read the match preview here.