The first-match post the winter break sees the two-time Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) champions, ATK head to the home of Kerala Blasters FC. Sitting sixth, Steve Coppell’s side are just four points off the final playoff place and as a result, will be hoping to make maximum use of all their matches until the end of the season.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Coppell refused to resonate complacency, instead regarding the Blasters’ appointment of a new coach as something to be wary of. He said, “It’s difficult because we have our own agenda. I’m focused only on ATK and what we need to do in the final six games. My point of view is: they are a team that have a new coach. It’s inevitable that the players will try to impress the new coach. That’s all I look at. All I’m interested in is they are a team that’s very good and have a new coach, and they’ll be looking to impress him. We know we have to be our best to get something from the game. So, that’s my only focus.”

Coppell went on to share his opinion on the winter break. “The good thing about the break is that it is the same for everybody. Undoubtedly, this final phase of the season, the teams that come out of the box quickly will get most advantage. Again, we’ve been talking about it, we’ve been training specifically to try and start quickly, start well. That is the challenge we have set ourselves. Every team at this stage will want to finish these six games optimistically, looking forward to also the next season. I don’t think we are any different from anybody else,” he added.

ATK have been very determined in the on-going winter break, bringing in the likes of Pritam Kotal and Edu Garcia to help them in their search for a playoff place. Coppell sounded hopeful on the impact the new signings would have. “Well we brought in some good players. Edu Garcia is a quality player. These players can only enhance our squad going forward. I just hope that they make a real impact. And it’s not just their impact. Its about the impact they have on the group because its important that the group responds,” said the Englishman.

The former champions’ record with injuries has been questionable over the past couple of years. This season hasn’t been any different leading to speculation about the training sessions conducted by Coppell. Rebuffing those claims with conviction, Coppell suggested that these things were inevitable in football. “In my first two years in the Hero ISL, I hardly had any injuries. We’ve had some injuries this year. It’s inevitable in this full-contact sport that you are going to get injuries. I don’t think it has anything to do with training. If anything, it’s just that it swings around sometimes and will happen,” he said.

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