ISL 2018-19: Kerala Blasters 1-1 ATK – 5 talking points

#4 Including Uche in the first XI was a bad call from Coppell

Uche (R) failed to perform [Image: ISL]

When you are sitting in the sixth position of the league table and only six matches left, you should go for a kill in every match. ATK, missing key players, failed to do that.

ATK have benefited the most during the January transfer window. Acquiring players like Edu Garcia and Pritam Kotal speaks its worth. Also, they loaned in Emiliano Alfaro from FC Pune City last December.

Having some of the best players of the league, ATK are still lacking the killer approach. They are a side doesn’t concede too many goals, but doesn’t score too many either. 11 goals in 13 matches means they are only team in this campaign to score less than one goal per match.

The reason for is the lack of quality strikers. Uche spent most of the time warming the bench. Alfaro got injured in the training session without playing a match. Short term filler Eli Babalj didn’t look like he can ever score a goal. The ploy to use Everton Santos, Balwant Singh or Komal Thatal in upfront didn’t help Coppell either.

But still, Coppell should’ve introduced either Santos or Balwant as a striker. At least they could’ve held the ball for some time to put pressure on the opponent.