ISL 2019 | Is Stephen Coppell the right man for the ATK job after all

ATK’s meekly ninth position finish last season, where they could only finish above NorthEast United, was a huge setback for the management. The Kolkata-based franchise had only parted ways with Atletico Madrid for financial reasons after the third season and moving away from the Spanish business model, which had fetched them two titles in three seasons, to become an independent identity was a thought that concerned many who were proven right.

ATK’s response to the crisis, however, was an impressive one, albeit not very exemplary. In a way, it is similar to how Chelsea FC operates in the English Premier League under the Russian Oligarch, Roman Abramovich. The club is hardly bothered about lack of funds to get their transfer targets with the title almost always being the first priority every season. On the other hand, their biggest concern every two seasons is getting the right man at the helm.

But, the experienced 63-year-old had one thing going for him, his mentality to seize opportunities. Despite being the man whose Manchester United career ended with 373 appearances and 70 goals and England career with 42 caps and seven goals, Coppell is widely remembered as a talent whose recurring knee injuries forced him to retire at the ripe age of 28. While his tactical genius is unquestionable, he is also someone who knows what it feels to miss out on things – something ATK was looking for.

Though Coppell had previously managed Kerala Blasters and Jamshedpur FC, one cannot deny the fact that they haven’t had the best of sides in ISL ever. Hence, ATK’s decision of handing him over the side that arguably has the most proven players in every position was not brainless after all. ATK’s winless starts in the first phase of the league had given way to numerous criticisms and it was more to do Coppell’s unanimated response than the team faring poorly. No fan would want to watch their manager standing with a clueless countenance leaning on one pillar of the dugout when the players look running for a lost cause on the pitch. 

While ATK’s first loss to Kerala Blasters looked more like a cause of an experimental lineup, their second loss to NorthEast United was more to do with the side trying to defend three quarters with one man less. After a 10-day break of the league, when Coppell was asked about the way forward, he had said that it was down to sheer hard work.

“Obviously now, I could reflect and say it’s just a question of everyone gelling together. But the solution to these problems invariably is just hard work and commitment,” he had stated.

Going with young Komal Thatal on the wings at the cost pushing of Everton Santos to the midfield where he was almost non-existent, was a move no one saw and it made much of the difference. ATK had bought in El Noussair to bring in the perfect box-to-box play in the centre, and playing without him and Eugeneson Lyngdoh wasn’t expected to help the side much. However, the idea to mix up the positions with Balwant Singh coming down in the midfield at times and Manuel Lanzarote playing as the two strikers alongside Uche got Delhi confused. In a way, Coppell had spelled his team ahead of the game in the press conference, but while other teams could have limited the damage, a Marco Tebar-less Delhi hardly had options.

That tweak was, however, not enough to guarantee ATK a win. Delhi Dynamos equalized soon in the second half and it is then when Coppell’s vision actually came into light. The underfire manager decided to bring in the hugely criticized El Noussair at a juncture when Delhi were hurling attacks like pebbles at ATK’s defence. The midfielder came on for ATK forward Uche raising many eyebrows but the seemingly mindless move got the job done. The Moroccan did exactly what he has been bought for. He won the ball near his defensive box and finished the move at the other end with the winner.