Goa: Inconsistent ATK Mohun Bagan will take on Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa on Thursday (January 21). Despite being second on the table, ATK have not been at their best for the past few matches struggling a bit with keeping the consistency.
However, coach Antonio Lopez Habas has denied about kind of added pressure on his side with a few results going against them. “In championships, you have good moments and sometimes bad. We have played the last two games against the top two teams – FC Goa and Mumbai City FC who are capable of winning the league. We are in the top half of the table. Maybe we need to improve,” he said in the pre-match press conference.
“We need to find the right balance between attack and defence. I wouldn’t prefer scoring and conceding 25 goals. That’s not good for me.” Apart from Roy Krishna, others from the forward line have struggled to find the back of the net which is a bit of concern although they showed great skill and resilience in countering opposing attackers.
However, they will face a different challenge as Chennaiyin have shown their mettle going against the run of play to get their goals while Krishna will be the man for the job to get nothing more than three points.
The two-time champions Chennaiyin FC will come into the game after playing a 0-0 draw against SC East Bengal in their last game. The Marina Machans too have struggled with consistency. Rafael Crivellaro’s absence has proved to be a major concern as being the man with the creative spark to turn the game on his side.
However, coach Csaba Laszlo feels his side can make the most even without him “I know my team and I know the actual situation in the team. We lost our captain Rafael Crivellaro. Rafa was an important piece of the puzzle in the system and he was voted one of the best players last season,” added Laszlo in the pre-match briefing.
“We are fighting with injuries. We are fighting with some kind of (bad) luck. But we are not complaining. I can take everything positively. You have to take the best out of the team.” While youngsters like Lallianzuala Chhangte, Jerry Lalrinzuaal and Anirudh Thapa will have to take more responsibility in making things happen, at the back they have been nervy throughout the campaign and this is a place where ATK can badly hurt them with the likes of a certain Krishana and David Williams in their tank.
Last time these two met back in December when they shared points ending the game on a mute scoreline but on Thursday things will be different as both the side looking to take advantage even on the slightest of mistakes by the other.
