Antonio Lopez Habas: It’ll be a very difficult match against FC Goa

The ATK head coach also revealed that he does not have any special plan to stop Ferran Corominas.

As ATK gear up to face FC Goa in their next league game, head coach Antonio Lopez Habas interacted with the media in the pre-match press conference on Thursday. The Kolkata outfit are riding high on momentum after having snapped NorthEast United’s undefeated streak in the league and are sitting at the top of the table. But, up next lies a formidable task against last season’s runners-up FC Goa at Fatorda Stadium, which hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Kolkata side in recent seasons. Antonio Habas is quite wary of how tough the match will be, but is approaching it as he does any other game. “For me, it’s just another match. The preparation and workload are the same. But, I think it’ll be a very difficult match, as it’s FC Goa’s home and they’re an important team in ISL history. For us, the objective is the same as any other game, which is to get three points in the bag," He explained. [KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] Antonio Lopez Habas lauded his side for showcasing their tactical wits in the win over NorthEast United and admitted that it might’ve been the best they’ve played under him this season. “I think in the last match the team won the tactical battle on the pitch. It’s not easy to win by three goals away from home against a team which hasn’t lost a game before that against us," he said. “I’m very happy with the performance of the team because I think maybe we played our best match tactically. For that, I’m very happy and positive about the future," he added. Ferran Corominas has been FC Goa’s most dangerous player in recent seasons, but Antonio Lopez Habas insisted that he doesn’t have special plans to stop him. “We know how important a player Corominas is for FC Goa. But, I know that we don’t have a special tactical method for him specifically. We have to play against Goa, not against one player particularly. I don’t like to single out particular players, as I know football is an individual sport,” he quipped. [KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News | Article Continues Below"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS] “I feel all our players are playing their heart out for ATK. I don’t like to choose between Indian or foreign players. Football is a game about the whole unit,” the Spaniard revealed, when asked to choose the best player of his side this season. The Spaniard also believes that the local players at ATK are definitely helping towards their success on the pitch and maintaining a good relationship off it as well. “It’s very important to have local players. It’s because the dedication the players have for the team that is most important," he expressed. “The players have a good relationship with the fans.  It’s important for the wellbeing of the team in the competition. For me, I’d like if many players can be in the team with the same passion. It’s important for the city, the club and supporters to have these local boys,” Antonio Lopez Habas concluded.