ISL 2019-20 | ATK have players who can create chances and score goals, believes Phil Brown
Ahead of their maiden ISL game against ATK, Hyderabad FC coach Phil Brown has said that ATK have some good players who can create opportunities and have the ability to convert those as well. Brown also heaped praise on ATK coach Antonio Habas along with the team and the city’s football history.
Hyderabad FC will play their first-ever Indian Super League game against the two-time champions ATK at the latter’s home. Playing their debut season, Phil Brown’s boys will be up against the team from the City of Joy at the famous Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Salt Lake.
Coach Brown spoke to the media ahead of their first game and said that ATK had the chance to win their opening tie against Kerala Balsters on the opening day of the tournament. He also revealed that the entire Hyderabad team watched the inaugural game together.
"I think it’s a rarity that a coach can sit here before the first game and be able to talk about the opposition. That was the advantage afforded to us by ATK’s first game against Kerala (being played before this match). Not only myself, but all my coaching staff and all the players, we all sat in the same room in the hotel to watch the game,” Brown was quoted as saying by the ISL website.
“I thought ATK deserved to get something from the game, and yet they haven’t got anything. They could have put two, possibly even three goals past Kerala, and that’s the part I have to focus on. They have players who can create opportunities and score goals."
“For the last six weeks, I have been trying to focus on the players that I have. I think it is more important as a coach to understand my players and my group - how they are thinking - coming into the first game of the season," he added.
ATK will be playing its first home game in season 6 and Brown had a lot to say about Kolkata and the ATK team. He praised the ATK coach and said that ATK have played some good football in the past few years of the League.
“It’s a great game for us. Away from home, I couldn’t think of a better venue. It’s a fantastic city, Kolkata. And we are coming here to face a team that, history has proved, have played good football. They have a coach who understands the game and understands India. My big focus, however, is on Hyderabad and the players that I have. We have prepared our team very well and we are looking forward to our first game," the Hyderabad coach explained.
“The brand of football that we play is important. We have to win the hearts, the minds and the eyes of the people of Hyderabad. We need to try and enhance the way we play to fill the stadiums and hopefully excite the fans so that they come and watch us. So, yes, we have a big part to play this season and hopefully, that starts with the match against ATK.”
Goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh will be leading the team from Hyderabad in the sixth edition of the league. He also talked about their opening battle against ATK in West Bengal’s capital city. He is hopeful to deliver after rigorous training ever since the team was formed to make its maiden appearance this season.
“Right now, everything is positive in the team. We are focusing on the game. Hopefully, what we have done in the past six weeks, we will deliver tomorrow,” the Hyderabad skipper mentioned.
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