ISL: Problem is we lack a consistent line up, says ATK coach Antonio Lopez

After losing three matches on the trot, Atletico de Kolkata coach Antonio Lopez Habas on Thursday regretted that his team was inconvenienced in the absence of a consistent line up owing to injuries to multiple players

Kolkata: After losing three matches on the trot, Atletico de Kolkata coach Antonio Lopez Habas on Thursday regretted that his team was inconvenienced in the absence of a consistent line up owing to injuries to multiple players and said he badly needs a striker.


Antonio Lopez Habas. Pic/Suresh KK

Kolkata lost to Delhi Dynamos at the Salt Lake stadium on Thursday as Gustavo Dos Santos netted a late winner.

"The main problem we are having is that we don't have a set team, a consistent line-up, somebody or the other keeps getting injured," Habas said at the post-match media conference.

Kolkata looked like they missed a finisher upfront as the chances they created all went abegging.

"I do not want to cry, but the team needs a striker," Habas said referring to someone like a Helder Postiga who had scored a brace for ATK in their opener against Chennaiyin FC.

Asked as to why the defending champions were making it a habit of conceding late goals, the Spaniard said: "We are having problems in concentration. We need to be calm and concentrate. In the last few matches the opponents have either scored in the very beginning or the end when usually there is a lack of focus. We need to concentrate in these times."

Talking about the heart-breaking loss, he said: "Very difficult to explain. It is a mishap."

The coach, however, denied it was all over for the champions and said: "The loss does not help us one bit. There are too many players injured, so there's less possibility to win. We are also not in a good position in the league table but then again there are a lot of matches still left."

On why Spanish medio Javi Lara failed to turn up for ATK in the evening, Habas said he was suffering from a groin injury and that he would be back for the next game against Mumbai City FC on November 1.

He added that the team needs to "recover mentally and recover their attitude" before going into the next game.

Habas noted that unless the likes of Spaniard Lara and Arata Izumi return to the side, Atletico may find it difficult to score goals and without goals it is "impossible" to win a game.

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