We will play attacking football: Molina

The Bengal Tigers want to consolidate their position in the top four with a win over NorthEast United…

Atlético de Kolkata will be looking to do the double over east Indian rivals NorthEast United FC at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium in Kolkata on Thursday. Kolkata head into the contest on a decent run of results and will be looking to take advantage of the Highlanders' recent slump in form that sees them winless in their last five matches, including four successive losses. Speaking to the media at the pre-match press conference, ATK head coach Jose Molina made it clear that the game plan ahead of their second encounter with NorthEast this season remained pretty much the same as it was the last time around in a 2-1 win at Guwahati. “Our plan for tomorrow is to do what we have been doing every match like defending well, press them and don't allow them too much time to think with the ball and we want to keep possession as much as possible, move the ball and try to attack as much as possible and do something similar to what we did in the second half in Guwahati [coming from behind through goals from Helder Postiga and Juan Belencoso],” said Molina. Kolkata have netted 11 times in nine games so far. However, none of their goals have been scored by domestic players. Commenting on the unwanted distinction of being the only side in the league yet to have an Indian goalscorer, Molina said, “We don't have Indian strikers as other teams like Chennaiyin have Jeje [Lalpekhlua] and Goa have Robin Singh and other teams have Indian strikers who can score goals, whereas we have [Iain] Hume and Juan Belencoso. I would like Lalrindika Ralte and Bidyananda Singh to score goals but it has not happened yet.” Tomorrow ATK will also be missing the services of Sameehg Doutie after the South African winger, who has scored two goals and made one assist for Kolkata so far this season, picked up an injury in their last game against Delhi Dynamos FC. “Well I think you can lose a player to injury and it is something we don't want to but we must accept that and I am absolutely confident about my team. We are playing good football and we have played a game fewer but we are still in the top four. Now we are focussed on tomorrow's match and on doing better. The past is the past and now we must work hard tomorrow for ninety minutes to win again and that is what we have on our mind,” Molina said. Photo © ISL Media