Bengaluru: After a disappointing draw against FC Goa at home despite taking an early lead defending champions ATK will look to get their campaign back on track when they face an upbeat Bengaluru FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Sunday.
“The team has some plans (for Bengaluru)” said ATK assistant coach Bastab Roy, who in the absence of head coach Teddy Sheringham said at the pre-match conference.
Placed seventh after just two wins and three draws from seven encounters the defending champions’ campaign seems to be in a jeopardy after all the glory years they had in the past three seasons. But Roy was optimistic of his team’s chances. “This league is very unpredictable and it is too early to say that we have lost hope. It will be decided in the last one or two games,” he added.
Bengaluru FC on the other hand had taken the league by storm initially but lost their way after repeated defeats against Chennaiyin FC and Jamshedpur dropped down to fourth. Nonetheless a 3-1 away win against the struggling Kerala Blasters have increased their confidence and the ‘Blues’ will hope to continue their run against the reigning champions.
Roca however feels that last minute lapses have cost them the games quite a few of number of times but they have learnt from their mistakes and also hinted at the fact that there might not be many changes against ATK.
“We lost games in the last few minutes previously and those were good lessons for us. After every game we need to see where we make mistakes and what really happened – not just players, but also myself. We have to look forward and not make the same mistakes,” said Albert Roca.
‘The Blues’ will nonethess be happy with their scoring form which saw them plunder six in the last two matches conceding just one. ATK on the other hand have found goals hard to come by but will have their hopes on Robbie Keane, who has scored two in the last two fixtures.