Antonio Lopez Habas: I am very happy with the performance

The ATK head coach also stressed that he needs to start thinking about the upcoming games.

Following his side's win against Jamshedpur FC on Saturday night, ATK boss Antonio Lopez Habas interacted with the press in the post-match press conference.

ATK trounced Jamshedpur FC 3-1 at a rainy Salt Lake Stadium, climbing their way to the top of the Indian Super League (ISL) table to make sure they head into the international break at the pinnacle of the league.

Roy Krishna produced a spectacular showing by scoring two penalties in the second half, before he also cleverly assisted Edu Garcia’s third goal of the season in stoppage time. Sergio Castel pulled one back with another penalty in the 84th minute, but it was too late for Jamshedpur FC by then.

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Antonio Lopez Habas must be a happy man going into the break on top of the ISL table, but he was once again asked about the standard of refereeing in the game, after poor officiating had hurt his side earlier this season.

Thoughts On Referee

“I can say nothing about the referee. The penalty happened very far from the bench. The first was a clear one. One day it (the refereeing) is good and the next day it is not so good,” Antonio Lopez Habas opined.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-wRWaedMKk&t=60s[/embed]

Watch: ATK 3-1 Jamshedpur FC highlights

Thoughts On Performance

When it came to describing his thoughts on the performance of his team on the night, Antonio Lopez Habas said, “I am very happy with the performance. It is better to be first than to be the last. We are in a good position.”

Despite the Kolkata side’s strong start to the campaign, the Spaniard revealed he has only outlined seven regular starters in his side so far and insisted that the players need to gel better going forward.

Thoughts On ATK Squad

“Seven players in first XI. So, we need time to gel and solve situations. We need more tranquillity in the closing stages,” the 62-year-old mentioned.

ATK are now one point ahead of second-placed FC Goa, but more important five points ahead of fifth-placed Odisha FC (their next opponents), after the international break.

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However, Antonio Lopez Habas also revealed that he isn’t only looking at his own side’s gap with others, but the other sides' gap in quality between each other as well.

“The gap is there for all teams and not just for ATK. But, we have to start thinking about new matches,” the Spanish tactician quipped.

ATK will return to action in the ISL on November 24, when they travel to the Balewadi Stadium in Pune to take on Odisha FC, before returning to the Salt Lake Stadium on November 30 to host Mumbai City FC.