ISL: Chennaiyin FC 1-1 Atletico de Kolkata - Post match reaction

Atletico de Kolkata assistant Angel Diaz Barrachina said his team have a healthy competition for places

A potentially mouthwatering encounter in the Indian Super League was rather cut short by a couple of debatable refereeing decisions, as both Chennaiyin FC and Atletico de Kolkata were reduced to ten men. There were varying opinions as different players put forth their views on the decisions.

Atletico de Kolkata’s assistant manager Angel Diaz Barrachina did not wish to comment on the refereeing decisions while Marco Materazzi said that he would rather concentrate on the fighting spirit that his team showed than about the mistakes that the referee might or might not have made.

Materazzi also said that he was rather surprised at Kolkata’s lack of attacking threat. He said, “If an opportunistic lob forward and a 60 yard shot are counted as attacking opportunities, then I’m sorry, I don’t see football that way”.

The Italian added, “We showed great attitude. Till 90 minutes, I would have seen a draw as two points lost. By injury time, I was mentally prepared to take this as a loss, but that late goal means I will see this as a point gained rather than two points lost.”

Goalkeeper Shilton Paul, who was sent off by the referee for a foul on Mohammad Rafi refused to comment on the referee’s decision, but the Mohun Bagan man looked visibly distraught.

Harmanjot Khabra, who was involved in a bruising midfield battle with Borja Fernandez and Ofentse Nato said that he was feeling no pressure to perform because he had Materazzi supporting him in midfield. Khabra said, ”When I have Marco behind me, I feel no pressure as he is world class and is always instructing us on what to do”.

Both Jeje Lalpekhlua and Mikael Silvestre though chose to differ from Materazzi and saw this game as two points lost. Jeje said, “It is important that we make the most of home advantage. Hopefully, we will come back strong in the next game. It is a game I am very much looking forward to, and it is a game we have to win.”

He also added, “There was me, Balwant, Mendoza and Elano on the pitch. We wanted that goal badly, and we finally got it.”

The Frenchman, who was closest to the action when Shilton was sent off said that he felt it was a foul. “There was contact and I feel it was a foul. And the referee after whistling for the foul had no choice but to send the player off.”

When quizzed about Bernard Mendy and Gennaro Bracigliano, Silvestre said, “It helps that both of them are French. We’re able to communicate much easier and as a result, it makes our respective jobs easier.”

Silvestre also added that he was disappointed by the result. “It was a home game, and we expect to win these games. So this is 2 points lost. Now, we will move to our recovery sessions and try to come back stronger against NorthEast United.”

Kolkata’s assistant manager Barrachina took a similar stance as Materazzi in not wanting to comment on the referee. On Jofre’s sending off, he said, “The referee has made his decision and we cannot change it. All that we know now is that we will miss Jofre’s quality in the next game.” Barrachina was also pleased with the way Luis Garcia shrugged off his injury to put in a man of the match display.

On Kolkata’s constant rotation of goalkeeper between Edel Bete and Subhashish Roy Chowdhury, the Spaniard said, “We’ve got two very good goalkeepers, and it is important that both of them do not switch off at any point in time. This healthy competition for places ensures that both of them give their 100% in training.”

The post-match interactions saw neither team wanting to be embroiled in further controversy though both of them have the right to be disappointed with the referee’s overall performance.