I believe in miracles: ATK coach Habas

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) coach Antonio Lopez Habas on Tuesday said he believes in miracles ahead of the Indian Super League (ISL) semi-final clash against Chennaiyin FC.

Atletico truly need something very special to overturn the three-goal deficit which they conceded in Pune in the first leg of the semi-final clash against Chennaiyin. The return leg will take place at the Salt Lake stadium here on Wednesday.

“Yes, I believe in miracles. We will have to attack, attack and attack and defend whenever we have the ball in possession tomorrow,” Habas told reporters here at the pre-match media conference.

On losing two of their key footballers, namely Ofentse Nato and Borja Fernandez, Habas said:

”It is not an excuse, we have 26 players in the squad, so we have no problem.”

The Spaniard also believes the vociferous fans at the stadium will have a big role to play in the game.

“Fans, they are very important to us. Tomorrow we need support from the first minute till extra time, if we got to it,”

he said.

The 58-year-old also said they have forgotten the 0-3 defeat at Pune and are looking forward to a winning the contest.

“We are professional players, it’s another game more. We will try and win the game, the loss at Pune is now gone. We have 90 minutes tomorrow so we will look to do well and win it,”

he said.

Speaking about marquee player Helder Postiga who is still recovering from an injury, Habas said: 

"He is still recuperating, I don’t know, I guess it is not possible for him to play.”

Asked who is he going to play in place of Fernandez and Nato, Habas lightheartedly said:

"I would call Materazzi and say than saying it here.”