I think the quality of Indian players has improved a lot-Habas

The Stallions manager is already planning for next season...

FC Pune City’s Indian Super League campaign came to a close with a 0-0 draw against Atlético de Kolkata at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium in Kolkata on Friday. The Stallions finished sixth in the table with 16 points from their 14 games. Pune head coach Antonio Habas congratulated his former side on making the semis for the third consecutive year but insisted that his team were worth a point on the night.

“First of all, I want to congratulate ATK for qualifying for the semi-finals and did we survive today? No and today was a different match than in Pune [which the Stallions won 2-1],” Habas told the media after the game.

59-year-old Habas also provided clarity on why star goalkeeper Edel Bete didn’t travel with the team for this match. “Bete had a personal reason as his wife is pregnant and he has gone to Paris,” he said.

Commenting on a lack of victories at home for Kolkata this year having played home matches at the Salt Lake Stadium in his two seasons with the club, Habas said, “Maybe they need a lot of people in the stadium and it is not our problem (laughs).”

Habas also spoke about the rise in the quality of domestic talent on display. “I think the quality of Indian players has improved a lot as they have become more competitive and have become better players,” Habas said.

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When asked about his future with the Stallions, the Spaniard said, “I have one more year on my contract with Pune City and I am happy, and I will try to build a good team for the next season and we are working on this.”

Report by Khel Now Correspondent Kushankur Rony Rakshit. Sports passionate and content writer. He is big football and cricket fan.