ISL 2019-20 | ATK need more despite good position in league, demands Antonio Habas
ATK head coach Antonio Habas has demanded more from his side despite their good position in the table ahead of their away game against NorthEast United FC at the Indira Gandhi Stadium. Goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharja spoke about ATKs improved performance this season and their upcoming games.
ATK travels to Guwahati in a bid to end NorthEast United FC's unbeaten run this season at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Saturday. Both teams are coming after a draw and will want to return to winning ways. The Kolkata side are second on the points table and a win will make them the table toppers. However, it will be a herculean task for Antonio Habas' boys to stop Asamaoh Gyan and Co. ATK head coach Antonio Habas has demanded more from ATK players despite their good position on the table.Â
“First part of the league has been successful for us. I think the conclusion will be good for us. The position we are in will be good for us in the long run. But now that we are in a good position, we need to give more. I want to say that the team is okay because their position in the league is good, but we need more.”Antonio Lopez Habas told reporters at the pre-match press conference, ISL website reported.
“All matches are tough. The last 15 minutes in a match is very important in this league. The main reason for this is that all teams are very polished. There is nothing much to improve. We are the joint-best team (with Goa) in terms of goal count. The team has a good balance, is good, but we want to be better. We need more from the players if my team has to be close to the idea that I have for it in my head."
Habas, who won the first-ever ISL title with ATK returned to Kolkata this season and rejuvenated them after their two poor seasons.
“We have to do a complete analysis because the team did not do very well in the last two seasons. So, we have to go step by step.
"The upcoming game is against another very competitive team. They are also in the top half of the league. We want the best; we want to win the league. The immediate target is to win every match and keep the team in the best position in the league. For that we have to go step by step,” Habas said.
Asamoah Gyan is the key player for the Highlanders having has scored three goals in six games and possesses a great threat to ATK and Antonio Habas wary of that threat.
“Asamoah Gyan is a good player. He played in three World Cups. He is a fantastic player. He is a very important player for NorthEast and we have to have control over him,” Habas concluded.
Joining the 62-year-old head coach was ATK’s custodian Arindam Bhattacharja who hailed his team's performance so far this season and spoke about ATK's upcoming challenges.
 “I think we are much more compact than last year. This shows in the league table. We are second, having played a match lesser. There are many good individual players as well as the players from last season who are playing very well.
“We have three consecutive away matches. But I personally feel that there is no such difference between home and away matches in the Hero ISL. We need to win all three matches, and that is our target. It will be difficult, but the team has been playing well and we will take that positivity into the next few matches,” Bhattacharja concluded.
