ATK ready to face super strikers Chhetri, Miku
KOLKATA: Crucial to ATK’S fortunes against a rampant Bengaluru FC here on Wednesday could be how they contain Sunil Chhetri and Miku, the undisputed bosses of the front third ever since the duo of Manuel Lanzarote and Ferran Corominas, who logged 31 goals for FC Goa last term, split. So far, Chhetri and Miku have scored all but one of Bengaluru FC’S six goals in three games. Last term, they had poached 29 goals together.
“It is not my work,” said Bengaluru FC coach Carles Cuadrat when asked how Miku, 33, and Chhetri, 34, have managed to carry forward their form from ISL4. “They are excellent professionals who keep aiming higher and have the hunger. They always want to make a nice show for the supporters. It is their talent and focus that makes nice things happen for us.”
Over seven years ago when Miku came here to play for Venezuela not many noticed him because that international friendly was about Lionel Messi. But since joining Bengaluru FC – a team that ATK coach Steve Coppell said is a yardstick they would like to measure themselves against – the former Valencia, Getafe and Rayo Vallecano striker has shown why clubs in South America and China continue to show interest in him.
Miku started ISL5 with a goal that rasping shot that deflated reigning champions Chennaiyin FC and scored against FC Pune
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City, finishing on both occasions with a sharp turn and with player on his shoulder.
Just as important as his goals is his ability to hold up play; it helped Chhetri score against FC Pune City.
Chhetri scored twice against them in what was Bengaluru FC’S last game after a headed goal against Jamshedpur FC. ATK haven’t kept a clean sheet yet – Bengaluru FC have two – but picked up as many points as their opponents in the last three games, seven. “We have a healthy respect for them but we are not losing sleep. If we play well, we have a good chance of winning,” said Coppell whose attacking players Lanzarote and Kalu Uche scored against Bengaluru FC last term for FC Goa and Delhi Dynamos respectively. ATK have not done that but Cuadrat said they have improved after the international break. In John Johnson, they also have a central defender who knows everything there is about Bengaluru FC having spent five seasons there. Cuadrat said Johnson “gave a lot to the locker room” and Coppell said “Johno has given us insight” about a team that is perhaps the most settled in the league.
Whether that ‘insight’ gets Coppell to start with Andrey Bikey as a defensive midfielder will have to be seen.