Molina wants ATK players to feed off the opposition fans at the ISL final in Kochi

JOSE MOLINA, the calculative Spaniard who led an the Atletico de Kolkata side reach the ISL 2016 finals, believes that playing the all-important game in the opponents' home ground would not be an issue.

The former Spanish international keeper, who has managed Kitchee FC and Villareal before taking up the ATK job, was especially at his best in the second leg semi-final against Mumbai City where he rested 9 first team players and employed an ultra-defensive strategy to get his team into the final.

But while the grand finale won't be anything as defensive for ATK, one of the big obstacles they must overcome is the sold-out Kochi crowd they will face; one that will unequivocally support the local team Kerala Blasters.

But Molina wants the pressure of 60,000 opponent fans to fuel his players to perform better. Speaking to reporters before leaving for Kochi, he said,

"I've told my players that there can't be a better place to play the ISL final. I've never seen this kind of madness and passion anywhere else."

Given the way ATK made a meal of fan opposition in the semi final away leg, one would have to assume that Molina is well on track to devise a successful strategy to feed off the stadium's opposing energy on Sunday.

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