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The Indian Super League – Season 3 tomorrow heads into the final week with the first leg of the first semifinal between former champions Atletico de Kolkata and first time semifinalists Mumbai City FC at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium in Kolkata.
Atletico de Kolkata, who had finished fourth in the league stge, are the only team amongst the final four, who have made the knockout stage in all three seasons, which gives them an advantage of playing home and away ties over debutantes at this stage of the league, Mumbai City FC.
But the team from the maximum city have been impressive in the regular season this campaign by topping the league after two failed attempts to make the semifinals. Their strength is the overall squad with a solid back line and a creative attack.
Atletico de Kolkata meanwhile is also a talented side, but they have been hit by injuries and over the course of the season they dropped numerous post due to the unnecessary draws that they have had in ISL-3.
Speaking to the media ahead of the game, ATK coach Jose Molina said: “We played against them earlier in the season and we did a very good job against them in those two matches and I hope tomorrow we can have a good match. I have confidence in my team that we can win, and not only do we have to do a great job in defence but we also have to do a great job in attack.”
“We never play for a draw and we have drawn here many times [five times this season] and you can ask the players that we always try to win, and we will try to win tomorrow, and if we can’t win tomorrow, then we will try to draw. When we are on the pitch, we want to win and if we can’t get the win, then we are happy with a draw,” Molina added.
Meanwhile Mumbai City FC head coach Alexandre Guimaraes played down a suggestion that his team was favourite going into the contest. “It is our first time in the semis and Kolkata have been there in the semis two times already, so I think I have answered the question. We are very excited to play our first semifinal and we are willing to do well like we did in the league stage. We know we are going to play against a team that also plays very offensive like us, so I think it will be a tough game and it will be a semifinal which will not be decided here but will be decided in Mumbai (2nd leg),” Guimaraes said.
Continuing on if the second leg taking place in Mumbai will be an advantage for his side, he added: “I think that first of all we have been very solid in our defence and we are a team that has conceded the least number of goals (8) but that has not made us play only defensive. We have also scored a lot of goals and we have a lot of talented players upfront and I have the luxury to choose from these talented players and everybody is available to play and no one is injured. I think I am giving you all too much information (laughs).”
Both coaches know and understand that a positive result in the first leg in Kolkata could determine the whole outcome of the tie as Atletico de Kolkata host Mumbai City FC.
