We have to be at our best to get some points against Kerala, says Steve Coppell

We have to be at our best to get some points against Kerala, says Steve Coppell

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Steve Coppell has stated that with a new coach in their ranks, the Kerala Blasters’ players would try hard to impress their coach and hence his team would have to be at their best if they want points from the game. The Indian Super League is all set to resume today after a break for the Asian Cup.

The fifth season of the Indian Super League (ISL) is all set to resume today with the match between Kerala Blasters FC and ATK. While the hosts are struggling at the eighth position in the points table ATK can still claw back to the top four and make it to the knockouts. In the same vein, ATK coach Steve Coppell has stated that they will have to play their best game in order to extract any points from the match against a rejuvenated Blasters.

“It’s difficult because we have our own agenda. I’m focused only on ATK and what we need to do in the final six games. My point of view is: they are a team that have a new coach. It’s inevitable that the players will try to impress the new coach. That’s all I look at. All I’m interested in is they are a team that’s very good and have a new coach, and they’ll be looking to impress him. We know we have to be our best to get something from the game. So, that’s my only focus,” Coppell was quoted as saying by ISL official website.

The coach also stated that the break will not have much bearing on the performance of one particular team as it was for everyone. But added that his team has been preparing specifically to get off the blocks quickly after the break so as to finish the tournament on a good note. ATK sit on sixth position on the points table and are just four points shy of reaching the top four. They would look to get three points from the almost out Blasters who are struggling to make a mark this season. 

“The good thing about the break is that it is the same for everybody. Undoubtedly, this final phase of the season, the teams that come out of the box quickly will get most advantage. Again, we’ve been talking about it, we’ve been training specifically to try and start quickly, start well. That is the challenge we have set ourselves. Every team at this stage will want to finish these six games optimistically, looking forward to also the next season. I don’t think we are any different from anybody else,” he added.

Coppell also explained that in the break the team has been reinforced by some exciting new additions with Edu Garcia being one of them. He hoped optimistically that those additions will have a positive impact on the final result for the team.

Well we brought in some good players. Edu Garcia is a quality player. These players can only enhance our squad going forward. I just hope that they make a real impact. And it’s not just their impact. It's about the impact they have on the group because it's important that the group responds,” said the Englishman.

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