Managers mull the M-words: Marco weary of 'mockery', Habas promises no 'magic'

CHENNAIYIN FC COACH Marco Materazzi on Wednesday said it feels they were being mocked as they slumped to their third consecutive loss of the season.

Chennaiyin on Wednesday lost to Atletico de Kolkata 1-2 at the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata. Materazzi told reporters at the post-match media conference,

"We feel like we are being made fun of." 

Asked about the surface at the stadium, the Italian World Cup winner said: 

"The pitch was good. There were two very good teams battling against each other. There was only one thing I would have changed (indicating to the referee)."

Materazzi was also quick to say that there was nothing to complain about and that his team was trying hard to succeed. He said,

"There is nothing to complain about. We were leading at one point of time in the game but then we went down. But we were trying real hard. We always try hard and we will keep at it until the end."

Ethiopian striker Fikru Teferra was chosen ahead of Colombian Steven Mendoza to start the game; asked if there was an injury concern for the latter, the former Italian defender said: 

"No, Mendoza is not injured. If Fikru was playing that means he is in good shape."

Materazzi also spoke on terrorism which has led to a few international football matches being cancelled,

"When these things happen, everyone's life is at risk, not only footballers."

Atletico coach Antonio Lopez Habas was elated at the win and congratulated the players for their efforts,

"It was a very important win. Today it was a difficult game but I would like to congratulate the players. It was a great display."

Asked if he was already thinking of the play-offs now that his team is on 17 points from 11 games, Habas said: 

"I am not going to talk about play-offs. We will take one game at a time. Next is FC Goa, so we would like to concentrate on them."

Goa were in a rampaging form in their last game beating Mumbai City FC 7-0, but Habas said his team will have a plan to stop the Goan attackers,

"I cannot do magic. But I can plan and that is what we will do against FC Goa."

The coach also added that there were no more serious injuries in the squad and that midfielder Ofentse Nato of Botswana would join the squad soon after being away for national duty.