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Two-time champions and one of the favourite contenders for the trophy, ATK will be the team to watch this time around in the Indian Super League.
The likes of Borja Fernández, Luis García, Iain Hume, Hélder Postiga, Henrique Sereno, Robbie Keane have donned the Red and White jersey of the Kolkata-based club in the previous editions.
Assistant coach Sanjoy Sen had been given the responsibility of bringing in talented footballers. He has been really active in the transfer market and ATK do have some made great strategic signings.
The Red and Whites finished as the Champions of the inaugural season in 2014, made it to the playoffs in the 2nd season, won the trophy in 2016 courtesy of a nerve-wracking win in penalties in the final against Kerala Blasters. The latest to lift the trophy have been Chennaiyin FC.
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ATK (formerly Atlético de Kolkata) dissolved the association with Spanish club Atletico Madrid before the start of ISL 2017-18. They had a new coach in the form of Englishman Teddy Sheringham. However, the season was a complete disaster for the team. With most of the squad not being retained for the season, there was no real understanding between the players and it was visible on the pitch.
Sheringham was sacked midway during the season after ATK managed to win only 3 out of 10 matches with Ashley Westwood -- the technical director for the club -- playing the role of an interim coach before the Irish professional footballer Robbie Keane was named as the player-manager. The Red and Whites finished at the 9th position, winning only 4 matches out of 18 -- with 4 draws and 10 losses out of the remaining matches.
The Robbie Keane led side managed to score only 16 goals while they conceded 30 in the 18 games. The previous edition of the ISL had left ATK fans utterly disappointed. However, the fans can breathe easy as ATK are again looking like a really positive team. A lot has changed since the last edition and there are a plethora of interesting signings which can bring the dynamism and vigour back in the club.
Here are 5 reasons why ATK can win the ISL title for the 3rd time and add more silverware in their kitty:
#5 Excellent Pre-season
ATK's management has left no stone unturned to ensure that their team receives the best of training and exposure. They had organized a lot of pre-season friendlies in Spain.
Their first friendly was against Lorca Fútbol Club and played at the Pinatar Arena Football Center in Murcia. The Nigerian forward Kalu Uche scored the only goal of the match off a penalty, handing ATK a 1-0 win.
Kalu Uche has been their star up front in the pre-season as he scored the maximum number of goals (4) for the Red and White Brigade.
The Kolkata-based club then faced Real Murcia Imperial, a Spanish 3rd division club, in their second pre-season friendly encounter. Balwant Singh joined the party as he scored the solitary goal of the match in the first half.
However, the biggest news came when a friendly match was announced against Premier League side Fulham FC. ATK managed to hold on in the first half and put a solid display with the score being tied at 0-0 at the end of the first half. A superb bottom corner finish by newly signed Fulham forward Andre Shurrle finally broke the deadlock. The 2014 World Cup winner with Germany got some space at the edge of the penalty box and slot the ball home to punish ATK.
Nevertheless, there were a lot of positive takeaways from this match as conceding only one goal against a Premier League team is in itself a big deal. Arindam Bhattacharya also made some terrific saves in the match and the level of understanding was also good among the Red and Whites.
The 4th pre-season match came against CD Almunecar City. Nigerian striker Kalu Uche netter 4 goals while Jayesh Rane scored one to hand the opponents a 5-2 drubbing. In the last friendly in Spain, ATK locked horns with Fútbol Club Jumilla but were handed a 3-0 drubbing by their opponents. Although they did not end on a high, their unit showed some great solidarity. ATK ended the pre-season with 3 wins and 2 losses but new Head Coach Steve Coppell would have gotten the insights on what to do next.
#4 Kalu Uche looking in sublime form, other strikers in good nick as well
With how the pre-season friendlies have concluded, it seems that Kalu Uche is one of the best prospects for the golden boot this season. The ex-Delhi Dynamos forward was roped in by ATK, reportedly for a hefty sum, and he is proving his worth.
The prolific Nigerian striker had a great run at the Dynamos as well, as he finished with 13 goals out of 15 matches, although the team themselves finished 8th. Undoubtedly the stand out player for ATK, the ex-Sevilla forward will look to come out all guns blazing when the new season begins in order to ensure the teams' revival after a disappointing 9th place finish last season.
Balwant Singh, Everton Santos and Uche can combine to give any defence a run for their money and will be lethal weapons for ATK for ISL 2018, capable of even helping them win the title if they bring out their best on the field.
#3 Former Manchester United striker Steve Coppell being roped in as the head coach
Bringing in legendary English player and Manager Stephen James Coppell as the head coach was another masterstroke by the clubs' management.
As a right winger, Coppell was known for his work rate and he has the ability to instil his beliefs and principles of the game in the players he manages. He has vast experience in his kitty, both as player and manager. Besides spending a couple of years at Tranmere Rovers, the 63-year-old played for Manchester United for over 8 years, scoring 70 goals in 373 matches for the Reds -- a feat he is most known for.
The Liverpool-born player also has a long and illustrious managing career. Crystal Palace, Manchester City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Reading, Bristol City are some of the top flight clubs he has managed since he started as Manager for Crystal Palace in 1984.
Steve Coppell is no stranger to Indian football as well. He led Kerala Blasters to the final in the 2016-17 ISL season, where they lost on penalties to ATK. The gaffer even led Jamshedpur to a decent 5th place finish in their inaugural campaign.
A veteran of the game with bags of experience in his kitty, ATK players are expected to perform well under the guidance of such an experienced professional.
#2 Balance in all the three departments
If we take a glance at the present ATK squad, it looks like a formidable unit with excellent players in all the three departments -- Forward, Midfield, and Defense.
Prabir Das is expected to start at right back with Aiborlang Khongjee as an excellent backup option. Sena Ralte will likely play the role of left back.
The Brazilian Gerson Vieira, Bengaluru FC regular John Johnson, Cameroonian footballer André Bikey, Arnab Mondal are the options to choose from for Steve as centre-backs.
Moroccan professional footballer Noussair El Maimouni, Pronay Halder, Hitesh Sharma, Cavin Lobo, Komal Thatal, veteran Spaniard Manuel Lanzarote (captain), Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Yumnam Singh, Sheikh Faiaz, Malsawmzuala are the plethora of capable options Steve has in the centre of the pitch.
The strike force is just lethal this time -- with Kalu Uche, Balwant Singh, Brazilian Éverton Santos expected to be the starters and Jayesh Rane as back up.
All in all, the squad looks extremely balanced in all three departments. It does not boast of extremely big names but there are some really good players in ATK and it will be interesting to see which combinations Steve Coppell tries out as they get ready to begin their campaign.
#1 Mindset of vengeance
The retained ATK players will be playing with a mindset of Vengeance. The mark of a true champion team is to do well consistently but ATK failed to do that as they finished at a forgettable 9th spot in the previous edition of the ISL after being crowned the champions the season before that (2016).
The players and backroom staff would not have forgotten the 10 losses out of the 18 and it would always be on the back of their minds to come back strongly. To finish almost at the bottom of the table after a 2016 season wherein they lifted the trophy is something which would have shaken up the players. ATK are expected to give it more than their 100 per cent as they have to prove themselves as a team worthy of lifting the trophy.
If we were to take into the consideration the aforementioned factors, then ATK are certainly one of the most formidable units and have all the firepower to enable them to lift the trophy a record 3rd time.
