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Maha Derby Day

City set to host first ISL match today as Mumbai City FC face FC Pune City

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FC Pune City’s David Trezeguet (centre) trains with his team-mates ahead of ISL clash with Mumbai City FC on Friday
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The tickets are all sold out. Opening game blues are done with. The cricket turf has been re-done to make it fit to play football. The players have got a feel of the ground, and now Mumbai City FC are all set to play their first home game of the Indian Super League as they take on FC Pune City at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Saturday.

Some may call it a derby, but both the franchisees know that that word doesn't matter when they take the field. They know they have to make up for their winless start in the tournament. Mumbai City FC lost to Atletico de Kolkata 0-3 in the opening game of the tournament, while FC Pune City were held to goalless draw by Delhi Dynamos.

Coach of the Mumbai team, Peter Reid said that he has identified the areas where his team needs to improve.

"Firstly, we need to pass better. If you look at our first match, we weren't that bad. In the second half, after we made a couple of changes, we looked dangerous. But they managed to get a great goal and we lost our momentum.

"It's difficult to comeback when you're two goals down. However, one must remember that Kolkata have a great side. But we need to make Mumbai City stronger, and that's why the game against Pune is so important. "

The team would, however, be without skipper Syed Rahim Nabi, who injured his ankle in the opening game and has been ruled out for at least three weeks. This means that former German international Manuel Friedrich would have to shoulder the responsibility of guiding the Indian players to play in their offensive style that the Mumbai team seem to have adopted.

Friedrich said that he was extremely disappointed with the result of the opening game. "It's the worst kind of feeling to concede. You feel like punching somebody afterwards," joked Friedrich.

Frenchman Nicolas Anelka is still serving his ban by FIFA for his 'quenelle' gesture, after scoring for West Brom in the English Premier League last season. Anelka looked in good touch during training at the DY Patil Stadium on Friday and must surely be inching to play. While other players were taking their drink breaks, the Champions League winner with Real Madrid was seen training on his own for at least 20 minutes. Anelka has two more matches to sit out. He will be available to play against Chennaiyin FC on October 28.

In some good news for Mumbai supporters, Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg has fully recovered from a calf injury and has started training with the team which means that he could feature at some point during the game.
It will be interesting to see what strategy coach Reid adopts against a team that has shown that they can defend deep, with goalkeeper Emanuele Belardi in excellent form.

"I want my team to play good attacking football. We need to be on the offensive. At the same time, I don't want to play attacking and then lose. I don't mind playing awful football and winning, though I won't be ecstatic about it," said Reid.

Pune, on the other hand, would be looking be hoping their marquee player David Trezeguet finds the net. The World Cup winning former French striker wasn't particularly happy with his team's performance in first game.

"We didn't play as we wanted. There were a lot of emotions on the pitch. We weren't able to do what we do on a daily basis. Our defence was pretty good. However, we weren't up to the mark in the midfield. Our offensive play was lacking," said Trezeguet.

One can only wait and see which strategy will prevail. Pune's defensive or Mumbai's offensive.

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