FC Pune vs ATK: Coaches secretive in high pressure game as teams fight for pole position

JUST LIKE THE CHENNAI GAME, Antonio Habas is taking unusual precautions to maintain secrecy. That time they erected make-shift walls around a section of the Barasat Stadium's pitch in order to practice free-kicks away from the prying eyes. This time, Atletico de Kolkata did not even practice in Pune, lest their tactics leak to the enemy camp. Habas didn't even do the customary pre-match press conference.

But his extra-cautious approach to tonight's match between FC Pune City and Atletico de Kolkata can be justified, since this high-pressure encounter of two teams playing very well has the pole position of the points table at stake. ATK, the only remaining unbeaten side in the ISL, are currently at the top with 7 points from 3 games. Pune, however, suffered a loss to Delhi Dynamos in the previous game and are on 6 points from the same number of matches, eager to return to the top with a win tonight.

David Platt is unfazed by the criticism being leveled at him after he made six changes to the starting line-up in the match against Delhi Dynamos, which is being blamed for the home defeat they had to endure to Roberto Carlos's boys. In the pre-match press conference, he stressed that his rotation policies were part of a plan and he would not hesitate to introduce new players even in the match against ATK. 

Whether or not he actually does so will only be clear when the team lists come out. But for now, he seems set to make at least four changes to the side that played against Delhi Dynamos, because this is a game where he will go for maximum strength in the squad. Players back from international duty like Pritam Kotal, Eugeneosn Lyngdoh and Jackichand Singh are all expected to make it into the starting line-up. Tuncay Sanli should expect a start as well. 

David Platt spoke highly of his opponent in the press conference, saying,

“I’d put them very high. They’ve won two and drawn one so they are in a strong position. We have to respect them... they’re well-drilled, organized and that’s testament to them since they win football matches. It’s credit to the coach [Antonio Lopez Habas] since last year and this year he has kept his philosophy and he has maintained the same way of playing."

The success of Habas as a coach is quite evident. He won the ISL last year and at the moment ATK sit proudly on the top. The return of Anrab Mondal and Rino Anto from national duty will further boost the defensive stability of the squad; both the defenders are expected to make their way into the starting line-up. Other than that, there may not be too much of a change in the squad, as the existing players have shown a lot of heart in difficult matches against the likes of FC Goa and Kerala Blasters.

The match is going to be tightly fought. But Pune City will be wary of allowing ATK the first goal. Because if their last two matches have shown us anything, it is that the defending champions can defend and grind out favourable results till the end of the world.

Probable starting line-ups:

FC Pune City - Diego Simonsen, Nicky Shorey, Roger Johnson, Dharmaraj Ravanan, Pritam Kotal, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Didier Zokora, Fanai Lalrempuia, Jackichand Singh, Adrian Mutu, Tuncay Sanli

Atletico de Kolkata - Juan Calatayud, Nalappan Mohanraj, Arnab Mondal, Josemi, Rino Anto, Borja Fernandz, Jaime Gavilan, Arata Izumi, Javi Lara, Nadong Bhutia, Iain Hume