The penultimate Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) match of 2020 saw ATK Mohun Bagan hold Chennaiyin FC to a goalless draw at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim on Tuesday. ATK Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharja had a great game and denied Chennaiyin on several occasions, however, head coach Antonio Lopez Habas was not pleased with the result even though his side were at the receiving end for the large part of the encounter.

“I am disappointed because if it is not possible to win, then we should have lost. It was not a good match. But with this draw, ATK Mohun Bagan are first in the league in the second last match of the year so that is good,” Habas said after the match.

ATK Mohun Bagan allowed seven shots on target and would have conceded quite a few goals if not for Bhattacharja. Habas assessed his team’s performance on the night. “We lost too many balls by clearances. Moreover, there were too many fouls against us which stopped our progress and made it difficult to play,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chennaiyin FC head coach Csaba Laszlo rued several missed chances that denied the Marina Machans all three points. “We had a chance to score two or three goals but I am confident that we will continue playing this kind of football and the goals will come. It is easier to create goal-scoring chances (than to score).

“On the whole, I think it was a good game of football. From my side, it was tactically very good. I am proud of my boys because playing after two days is not easy. We were better while defending set-pieces so this is a step forward. The goals will definitely come,” Laszlo said after the game.

Laszlo also gave an injury update on his Brazilian playmaker Rafael Crivellaro, who had to come off after taking a knock. “He twisted his ankle and we hope that it is nothing serious. But the games are coming in fast. I have to talk with Rafa and the doctor. I hope he will be back. Isma (Esmael Goncalves) will be back so that is good as well,” he said.