PRE-GAME QUIPS: Coppell and Molina discuss preparation & team spirit before #KERvATK
KERALA BLASTERS HOST ATHLETICO DE KOLKATTA TONIGHT for both team's second match in ISL 3. Here are some match facts leading into the game
- ATK lead 3 wins out of 3 in the head-to-head in ISL
- KB have lost their first game in ISL 3 to NEUFC
- ATK drew 2-2 against Chennaiyin FC
- Ground was unavailable for training to both teams
- Available for selection : Josu Currais (KB)
- NOT available for selection : Ofentse Nato (ATK), Aaron Hughes (KB)
Speaking to the media on the having won all 3 of the previous encounters with KB, Coach Molina said
“Last season is the past, this is a new season with new coaches and new players. Every match is different. ATK won last year but to win again tomorrow we will have to work really hard. We have to focus really hard for tomorrow and forget the past."
Spaniard Molina asked about how he was looking at the Kerala Blasters threat replied
“As long as we work together and play as one unit it will not be difficult and we will need to do that in the next game as KBFC are a very good passing side.”
The Kerala Blasters Coach Coppell on the defeat by NEUFC suggested he would move on from that loss and make things right to please the crowd.
"No the first game we tried a possession-based game and it didn’t work out. The games I've seen on TV are more high-tempo and I hope we play much more up-tempo this game. I hope we match up with Kolkata, and make the fans happy,”
Coppell continued,
“You could say the forward didn’t move enough, there are loads of ways to look at this. There wasn't much in the last game, both teams were cancelling out each other.”
Coach Molina sharing his thoughts on Sameehg Doutie showered praise on his last game's performance but stressed on the entire team's effort for success.
"He scored a good goal and was very good in the last match but for me it’s a team game and all players will have an equal role. I don’t think we should play around one player. But he is a very important player for us. It is about 11 players working together as one unit"
Kerala Blasters will have Josu Curais available for selection. He was serving a one game suspension after receiving a red card in KB's last league game against FC Goa in ISL's 2015 edition. Sharing this news Coppell said
"Josu is a left-footer and he plays as left-back as well. You have to do your best with the given available set of players. We will have better balance going forward."
Coppell awaits Antonio German to be back to his best as the league picks up.
"He was injured two weeks back and he is recovering from that. But he will get fitter over a few games because in football you get stronger as the league goes on and more matches are played"
ATK coach Molina answered a question about the performance of marquee players influencing the match results saying
"I think it’s not going to be a match-up between two players, of course they are marquee players and the most important players, but it’s not one on one, it’s 11 on 11,”
Kerala Blaster Mohammed Rafi excited for the ATK challenge shared his view
“We are preparing well for tomorrow's match against ATK, since it's our home we will have to put some pressure on them and hope for a good match.This is our home ground, we are fully focused and we will be putting in our 100%.”
Molina speaking on player's fitness and availability said Ofentse Nato will again be unavailable for selection for today's fixture.
One major turning point in today's match would be the fact that KB in spite being the home team would not get a feel of the pitch as it underwent cover-up work for the cricket pitch in the heart of the ground. To this important factor, Coppell's thoughts were
"We haven’t trained here, a lot of our players haven’t played on this ground at all. But we'll have to make it all up with the fans that are going to pour in. I'll be looking forward to the noise and seeing a lot of yellow”
