FC Pune City play host to NorthEast United FC in Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune on Thursday. The Stallions come off the back of a 2 – 0 victory over FC Goa, where they inflicted a first home defeat on them while also preventing the Gaurs from scoring for the first time this season. Head coach Ranko Popovic, however, has been banned for four matches, so speaking to the media during the pre-match press conference was Stallions’ assistant coach Vladica Grujic.

Pune does not have a good home record this season, having lost both of their previous home fixtures, but the team was not focusing on that too much. “We have lost the last two games at home,” Grujic said. “But the opponent has only had one or two shots at goal. But I think the team is improving every day. We don’t have to think about what’s happened before; we just have to play our best.”

He also reckoned the Highlanders have been unlucky so far, but Pune would be in no mood to give them any leeway at home. “North East have four points, but normally they should be having more points with a bit more luck,” the Serbian opined. “We have shown in the last game how compact we are, and I think tomorrow is the time to win the game at home.”

Before wrapping up, he mentioned that their training will surely pay dividends in their match against NorthEast. “We are satisfied with the way the team is training. I am sure tomorrow, we will demonstrate good football to our fans and we must win and get three points,” he concluded.