The third edition of the Indian Super League is just one week away and the footballing action will soon grip the nation with eight teams looking to emerge as the Indian champions. FC Pune City will be one of them to challenge for the top spots after missing out on semifinal spots for the past two seasons. The Stallions have undergone an overhaul with a new manager, Antonio Habas at the helm, who replaced David Platt after finishing seventh in the table last season.
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Iceland's best player ever, Eidur Gudjohnsen will be the marquee player for Pune City, succeeding Adrian Mutu who was Pune's top scorer last season. Along with some exciting new foreign players in Jesus Tato and Gustavo Oberman, Pune have experienced players in Bruno and Apoula Edel. The Stallions have some exciting Indian talents in the form of Zodingliana Ralte, Sanju Pradhan and Eugeneson Lyngdoh.
Habas, a former ISL winner with Atletico De Kolkata has a playing style similar to Diego Simeone as the former Valencia boss likes to strike on counter attacks with his team defending as one and his players doing relentless pressing in their half. The 58-year-old reached the knockout stages on both the occasions and Pune are having the same aspirations under him. Let's take a look at the best xi that will take the centre stage for FC Pune City this season :
Goalkeeper: Apoula Edel
Edel is a man on a mission as he wants to complete a unique hat-trick of winning three ISL titles with three different teams. The Cameroon-born custodian won the league title with Kolkata in the inaugural season in 2014 and also with Chennayin FC last season.
The 31-year-old was one of the most sought after players for this season and the Stallions have managed a huge coup to secure his services for the third ISL season.
Left back: Zodingliana Ralte
The 21-year-old is one of the most highly-rated talents in Indian football and has plied his trade with NorthEast United and Delhi Dynamos in the past. Ralte who played as a winger in the I-League for Shillong Lajong has been deployed as a fullback in ISL before. This season can be a breakthrough campaign for the youngster as he looks forward to attaining his first senior cap for India.
Centre back: Gouramangi Singh
Gourmangi is an experienced player in both ISL and for India having been capped 69 times for his national team. Last season he played well for the Stallions and will look to be a strong presence at the back under Habas.
Centre back: Eduardo Ferreira
The new signing from Iranian Pro League has many expectations from fans and club alike. The 32-year-old has been playing first team football for 11 years and has now decided to take up a challenge of playing in India. He needs to form a resolute partnership with Singh in order to form a solid pair as Habas' main priority has always been discipline at the back.
Right back : Rahul Bheke
Bheke has been an integral member for East Bengal over the years and played a huge role for Kerala Blasters last season. The 25-year-old will play on the right flank with Andre Bikey suffering an injury before the start of the season. Bheke needs to have a strong season to be in the reckoning for the Indian national team.
Centre midfield : Lenny Rodrigues
Rodrigues has been with Pune City since the first season and has represented India 22 times. The box to box midfielder will be an important player for Pune this season and will look to improve his overall game and most importantly his goal tally.
Centre midfield: Eugeneson Lyngdoh
The AIFF player of the year in 2015 is regarded as one of the best midfielders in modern times to be produced by India. He has been a fan favourite for Shillong, Bengaluru FC and now will look to mesmerise the Pune crowd with his tactical acumen and ability to control the tempo of the game.
Attacking midfield : Gustavo Oberman
Habas was all praises for Pune's new Argentine signing. He said, “Gustavo is a player who we feel is rightly suited for the style of football which we at FC Pune City would like to play this season, i.e. attacking brand. He has a knack of creating chances from unexpected positions and am sure that’s going to be an asset to the team. "
Oberman has played in Argentina and Spain and is said as a technically gifted player. Pune will look to his experience in the final third and also for his link up play with the other attackers.
Right wing: Sanju Pradhan
Pradhan has already played under Habas at Kolkata and they now reunite at Pune City after Pradhan's spell with NorthEast United last season. The 27-year-old is a versatile player and can play in midfield and also on the wings as Habas will look to deploy him on the flanks with the Stallions having many options in midfield.
Left wing: Jesus Tato
The former Barcelona academy player can be said as one of the most exciting signing for this edition of the ISL. Tato is another versatile player who can play anywhere behind the striker and also as a striker when needed. Habas is expected to start him on the wing with Gudjohnsen and Zurdo expected to be the strikers for this season. Tato and Ralte can form a deadly partnership for the Stallions on the left flank.
Striker: Eidur Gudjohnsen
The 38-year-old is expected to provide firepower and much-needed goals for Pune City. Expectations will be high from the former Chelsea and Barcelona man as he and Diego Forlan are expected to go head to head for the golden boot. He featured for Iceland in the Euros and though he missed Pune's practice game last week, Gudjohnsen is expected to start against Mumbai City FC in the first game.
