ATK look to regain pride vs Blasters
Defending champions ATK have been ravaged by injuries and left with just five foreign players as they make the last attempt in the season to do the improbable and stay alive.
ATK interim coach Ashley Westwood has lost all three games since the departure of Teddy Sheringham but the former Bengaluru FC coach is believing in the mathematical possibility that should they win all the remaining matches, they will move to 27 points and have a “fighting chance” of making it to the top four.
“We are still with a fighting chance. We can get to 27 points. There is little bit (of) hope. As professional footballers, they need to play for their careers and new contracts. You don’t need motivating,” said Westwood.
ATK lost their last league clash against Bengaluru despite their rivals having a player sent off in the second half. Westwood said they “completely dominated” Bengaluru and had “chance after chance” but paid a price for not converting any of the chances
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that came their way.
Kerala Blasters will be equally difficult particularly since the visitors now have a chance of qualification to the play-offs after two wins in a row.
Kerala Blasters are placed sixth with 20 points from 14 matches and have just four matches.
“We cannot falter. We need nothing less than four more wins from the remaining fixtures,” said Kerala Blasters coach David James.
James took over the team midway into the season and has turned the team’s fortunes wining 13 points from the last 21. Under Rene Meulensteen, Kerala had only seven points from the first seven matches.