Blasters keen on attacking ATK

If you analyse the top players, the reason they stand out is that they don’t take touches that they don’t need and that creates a different rhythm. R MEULENSTEEN , Blasters coach

KOCHI: Kerala Blasters FC coach Rene Meulensteen expects his team to play one-touch attacking football to break through the wall of ATK’S defence in the opening match of the 2017-18 season of the Indian Super League (ISL) here on Friday.

The Dutchman, known for his technical coaching, hinted on Thursday that he will apply the same method that he has always believed in -- delete needless touches and play a fast brand of football to create space and score.

“I have always told players that they should figure out who their favourite players are in their best position, see their clips and try and figure out what they’re doing right. If you analyse the top players, the reason they stand out is that they don’t take touches that they don’t need and that creates a different rhythm and speed of play. Hopefully we can get that integrated into the team and see it in the games we play. It’s not easy, of course, but that is what we’re aiming for,” he said.

Kerala have won just once in eight meetings against ATK, a 2-1 victory that came three years ago. Meulensteen will, however, have one of the players who scored in that victory in Iain Hume.

The visitors come into the game not having lost a single first away match. They’ve also scored 11 goals against Blasters and broken their hearts in two finals.

But Meulensteen said he had a fully fit side to pick from. “The past doesn’t matter tomorrow.”

This is not the case for ATK though, who will be without their star signing Robbie Keane. Coach Teddy Sheringham has enough goal threats to choose from, with India’s Robin Singh being one of them. In midfield, he has Eugeneson Lyngdoh and Jayesh Rane, both supremely talented.

“We have worked hard on our defensive game, but we also want to go forward. We are going to play to win tomorrow,” Sheringham said.

More than anything else though, the match will be a battle of one of the strongest home sides against one of the finest away sides. The Blasters won six home matches in a row last season, while ATK won four games on the road.

We have worked hard on our defensive game, but we also want to go forward. We are going to play to win.

T SHERINGHAM, ATK coach