Kolkata: Atletico de Kolkata’s Canadian striker Iain Hume is not concerned about his goal scoring form in this edition of Indian Super League (ISL). The second highest scorer of the league last season has so far scored only 1 goal in four matches. Hume’s off form is reflected on Atletico’s performance as well as the Kolkata franchise has so far scored 5 goals from 4 matches. With injury to Helder Postiga the onus is on Hume to score goals for the last years semi finalists.
On his lean patch Hume said, “I scored my first goal against Mumbai after 6 matches last season. Here I have already scored a goal and have an assist against the defending champions (Chennaiyin FC). So you never know.”
He further added, “We haven’t created too many chances this season.”
Asked if Jose Molina is not using him properly as Antonio Habas did during his stint as coach of Atletico, Hume said, “Habas had success with the team. But we are not missing him because we got a good coach in Molina.
“We are not getting beaten so is he unsuccessful? We are third in the division. We are not winning but we are not losing either.”
Hume said that once injure marquee player Helder Postiga is back, we will have a potent strike force.
“Last season Helder got injured unfortunately. I was fortunate to be at the end of everything. When you have players like Javi (Lara), Borja (Fernandes), (Sameehg) Doutie putting ball on a plate for me, it gets easy. You have got players trying to fill Helder’s void.
“We had a lot success against Chennaiyin by moving the two best centre backs of the ISL (Bernard Mendy and John Arne Riise) and a lot. If we can be successful without Helder, I wish all the best to rest of the teams when he is back,” Hume said.
Hume reiterated Borja who said Habas and Molina are similar in their playing styles, adding that as persons they are different.
“What’s the difference between (Louis) Van Gaal and (Jose) Mourinho?
“Eveybody has different personalities. Habas and Molina are good coaches. I woudn’t say their style is very dissimilar. As persons everybody is different from the other.”
Hume also lamented on the poor turnout at the Rabindra Stadium for this season’s matches, saying that it is ‘disappointing’ when compared to the colossal Salt Lake Stadium which used to draw around 60,000 spectators.
“Salt Lake fan base was ridiculous. The atmosphere is not the same in the new stadium. It’s disappointing not to have the same number of fans,” Hume who is in his second season for ATK told reporters here.
“Second game (against FC Goa) was a Sunday and it was disappointing that fans didn’t turn up. When we moved to here, we thought we could grasp the opportunity to fill a smaller stadium. It’s sad that we cannot fill even a 12,000 odd capacity,” Hume said.
ATK are playing all their home games at the Rabindra Sarovar Stadium as Salt Lake Stadium is undergoing renovation work for the U-17 World Cup.