Atletico de Kolkata coach Antonio Lopez praises his team and looks forward to return of first-choice players

Antonio Lopez Habas after the semi final against FC Goa

Kolkata, Dec 14: With a depleted Atletico de Kolkata managing to hold off FC Goa goalless in the first leg of their semi-final encounter here Sunday, coach Antonio Lopez Habas heaped lavish praises on his players and exuded confidence of entering the final.

"It's not easy to lose five frontline players and still play so well but it was a great performance from the players," Habas said post the match which old war horse Arnab Mondal and talismanic striker Fikru Teferra had to miss due to injury.

The Spaniard, however, admitted that the players were guilty of not being able to capitalise on the chances that were created.

"Although we could not score but we created chances. We are thankful to huge crowd for supporting us. They supported us because we played well," asserted Habas.

Hoping the availability of all his frontline players for the second leg of the game to be played in Goa, Habas exuded confidence of breaking the deadlock.

"We hope all the players will be available for the next game. We would like to score the all-important goals needed to reach the final," added Habas.