Atlético de Kolkata head coach Jose Molina is eyeing maximum points when his team takes on hosts Chennaiyin FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday. Fifth in the standings with 14 points from 10 games, ATK have been winless in their last three matches (two draws and one loss) but can give their semis hopes a big boost if tomorrow they can beat the defending champions, who are just one point behind.

When asked if he thought Chennaiyin and ATK were vying for the fourth qualification spot, Molina replied in the negative. “All teams are very close in the standings this season. The points are close. Still we have to play three other teams and we cannot say [anything] now. But we have to fight and try to win. It's not between only Chennaiyin and us,” he told reporters.

ATK have won three matches against Chennaiyin in the past besides drawing three and losing only one game. But Molina does not think that record gives them any advantage heading into the contest on Sunday. “No. I don't think about the past. I live in the present. Maybe ATK have lost [just once] before, but to win tomorrow we will have to play very well. Doesn't matter what happened in the past,” the Spaniard said.

“I think Chennaiyin are strong as a team. They have good players. In defence, they have good players. Going by numbers, maybe you think they are not strong but I think they are strong. They suffered seven goals against Delhi, yes, but in the rest of their matches there are very few goals against them. Their defence is very intense. In their last match against Pune, they played really well. They have strikers who help them well like Jeje Lalpekhlua and Davide Succi, so they are doing a good job together.”

Molina also defended his backline which has conceded 11 goals in 10 matches this season and has often looked off colour. “Everybody make mistakes. Chennai make mistakes. Delhi make mistakes. Everybody. Sometimes the opponents can score, sometimes they cannot. I have confidence in my players and in my defence and we will try not to make mistakes. We will try to win the match,” the 46-year-old said.

“Most important thing is to try to play well and try to control the game and of course not make mistakes because Chennaiyin can take advantage of them. We have to concentrate on defence and attack.”

Molina also provided a fitness update on star midfielder Sameehg Doutie who picked up a hamstring injury in their 2-2 draw against Delhi Dynamos FC and missed their last game against NorthEast United FC. “Doutie is not playing tomorrow. He still has pain in his hamstring and I don't think he can play tomorrow,” he said.