ISL 3: Molina not worried about playing Final in Kochi
Atletico coach draw confidence from group league win over Blasters
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Jose Molina is confident about his team before facing Kerala in the Hero ISL Season 3 Finale. File Pic[/caption]
Internet Desk: Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) coach Jose Molina is confident of playing in Kerala Blasters home turf in Kochi. In the pre-match press-conference on Friday he said the team is not worried about thevibrant crowd that will cheer home team Kerala Blasters in the final of the Indian Super League (ISL) and his team will enjoy playing there on that atmosphere.
"We have played there in this competition and we also achieved victory. It was a great atmosphere there," Molina told reporters before leaving their base for Kochi where the summit clash will take place on Sunday.
"I was talking yesterday with my players, the thing is it's impossible to find a better atmosphere. It does not matter if it's the Kerala fans. It's what the players want to play in front of. It's a dream of every player to play in that kind of atmosphere," the Spaniard who led the team to the summit clash in his first year at the helm, said.
ATK have a good track record against the Blasters and have also won their inaugural title pipping them in 2014. Molina though felt there would be no added advantage and he is not one who dwells on the past.
"If you ask me about about past I always say I don't worry about past. Past is past, we did not lose last season against them but that doesn't mean we will win here. I live in the present not in the past. We will try to play the best football possible," the former goalkeeper said.
"Kerala have good players and they are playing in their own stadium. I don't think we have any advantage. The team that plays better wins," Molina stated.
Iain Hume, who has been instrumental in ATK's journey so far scoring seven times, said the team always believed from inside that they have got what it takes to reach the final.
"Its gonna be a great atmosphere as we all know. Our job is on the picth. We have worked really hard to get here. We are ready for it. We have done it already this season and we did last season. We are excited. From the inside we believed we are good enough to get to the final," the former Kerala Blasters striker said.
On his former team and facing them in the final, Hume said, "It's going to be a massive occasion.
The first final was special (where he played for Kerala Blasters). We should have got there last year ( when he moved to ATK). It's another game and we cannot get overawed. We will be looking to give the best performance and try and play as well as we can.
Acknowledging that kerela are a good side Molina said "We know they are a strong side. They are in the final because they are good. We prepare for the game in our way and hopefully our plan will be better than theirs."
