Kolkata:
Having ended Atletico de Kolkata’s four-match winless streak by his stunning header, captain Luis Garcia on Tuesday said the side have got the much-needed confidence as they hit the road for four consecutive away games in the Indian Super League.
“It has given the confidence. We’ve been playing well and improving but were not able to find the target. But today we got the goal and three points, which was most important thing for me,” said Garica, whose 51st minute header sealed the issue against NorthEast United FC in their return leg ISL fixture on Tuesday.
ATK went three points clear of Chennaiyin FC atop the standings to brighten their semifinal hopes but Garcia urged the need to stay grounded and said they’re not thinking too far ahead.
“It’s important to continue winning games. As we said at the beginning, we will try to win every game and that means no looking further than the next game. Our focus is just on the next game which is in three days’ time. Obviously the main target is to play the final. We’re just looking forward one game at a time. For us we are to try win every game, not look much further. focus is on the next game only,” he said.
The former Liverpool star Garcia did a slight adjustment in his position coming up front in the second-half, something that yielded in the matchwinner as Garica beat NEUFC’s Spanish World Cup winner Joan Capdevilla to head the ball into the back of the net.
“It was not exactly a big change. The coach told me to go a bit more higher. So we started pushing up a bit more and started creating more chances,” the ATK captain, who was adjudged man of the match, said.
ATK coach Antonio Lopez Habas said they deserved to win three points and pointed out that they have been holding on to the pole position since day one of the league on October 12.
“The most important thing was to get three points. The fixture is very tight. We’re on top from the beginning and today it was ninth round we’re still at the top,” Habas pointed out.
Ofentse Nato had to be substituted by Rakesh Masih in the 83rd minute with a shoulder injury and Habas said the midfielder would still travel with the side.
Habas, however, said their stopper Biswajit Saha has been ruled out for a week.
