FC Pune City assistant coach Miguel has stressed the importance of ‘aggression’ ahead of his team’s home game against NorthEast United FC at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Balewadi on Wednesday.

The Stallions started their 2016 Hero ISL campaign off on the wrong foot with a defeat against Mumbai City FC at home but they came back strongly with a 2-1 away win against the mighty FC Goa. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Miguel left nothing to the imagination as regards the areas his team wanted to improve in.

“The first thing is try to finish with a clean sheet. Not to concede goals. That’s where we have to improve. The second is to be more aggressive. The positive meaning of aggressive. More competitive on the field. That means we show to the opponent we are going after them from the first minute to the last. The positive meaning of aggression in line with the rules of the game,” Miguel told reporters in Pune.

Pune City will now play three homes in a row and it gives them a big opportunity to move up in the league in view of their home support, but Miguel said they were not looking that far ahead. “The thing is we are ready to compete. We are playing NEUFC now and our focus is on that, only one game. We know we are playing three games in a row at home.”

Miguel also shed light on the mentality of his players ahead of the game on Wednesday besides urging fans to turn out in large numbers. “Mentality is always the same. If we are play a top-ranked team or lower, our objective is to try and win and get the three points. For that we need the support of our Orange Army. We need the 12th man’s support from the stands,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pune defender Rahu Bheke spoke with a sense of respect and gratitude and when asked to comment on the importance and benefits of playing alongside foreign signings, like former Liverpool star Mohamed Sissoko. “Playing with the overseas players is important. They help us and guide us throughout the season. That’s what we Indian players want,” he said.

“Sissoko has come here with a lot of experience. We feel much stronger after he has come.”