A completely new-look team with a seasoned manager at the helm, two-time Hero Indian Super League (ISL) champions ATK is definitely one of the teams to beat this 2018-19 season.

At the Hero ISL Media Day event held in Kolkata, indiansuperleague.com caught up with Coppell, alongside new signing Gerson Vieira and midfield maestro Eugeneson Lyngdoh to uncover their thoughts ahead of the new season. 

New season, new expectations 

This will be Coppell’s third Hero ISL season. After stints with Kerala Blasters FC and Jamshedpur FC in the past two editions, the Englishman will use his arsenal to win the coveted trophy this time around. When asked how he is warming up to the new city, he shared, “It definitely has a different vibe to the other places I've been to. I was very fortunate in my first season to be at Kerala and match days were amazing you know, a sea of yellow, but here, you get a sense of a football feeling all week long. You know, the people you speak to in the streets, they're really looking forward to the new season and looking forward to having regular football on their doorsteps again.” 

Last season, Coppell made Jamshedpur one of the most defensively resolute sides in the league, an attribute which is a part of his footballing philosophy. But for the new season, the 63-year-old’s plans are slightly different. “I don’t prioritise it (the defence) to be absolutely honest,” he said. “We just think that it is a part of the team’s preparation. Defence is more about discipline and attacking football is more about creativity and intuition. It’s something you can’t coach. I would be hoping that this season we will be defensively strong, but it’s not something that we have got ourselves to worry about.” 

Excitement brewing in the camp 

ATK’s Brazilian recruit will be plying his trade for the first time in another Hero ISL club after spending two seasons at Mumbai City FC. When asked how the new season felt, he excitedly remarked, “Actually, I am more excited for this season because it is a new moment in my life and I have to live like full-time. I have to put my full energy in this and I am 100% motivated” 

On the other hand, midfielder Lyngdoh, who missed most of 2017-18 due to an injury, spoke about how he is gearing up for the new season, “Obviously, last season was unfortunate for me. I played three games and then, I got injured. I wanted to play very badly last season and coming to a new club, I didn't really get to do my best for the club. So, obviously this year I want to do what I couldn't do last season. I'm really looking forward to the league.” 

He also shed some light on how the squad looked ahead of the season, “I think we have got really good depth in foreign and Indian boys. So, I think we have a good fight to get into the first 11 and that's what is very important for the team and for the coach - to have a tough selection. So in that perspective, we are really doing well and I think that whoever comes to the pitch can really come out and perform. So, I think we have a strength that is very good for us in the long run of the season.”