Kolkata: Chennaiyin FC have one foot in the final of the Indian Super League 2015 but past experience suggest Marco Materazzi's boys will not be able to drop guard in the reverse fixture against Atletico de Kolkata in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Chennaiyin FC stunned Atletico de Kolkata 3-0 in the first leg semifinal in Pune last week and will feel confident they can dethrone the defending champions. But Materazzi knows how Chennaiyin FC were down 0-3 last year against Kerala Blasters in the first leg and then almost turned it around in the home fixture, winning 3-1. It was close and nervy as Chennaiyin FC failed to qualify by a single goal and Materazzi will expect nothing less when he takes his team to Kolkata.
“Last year the same thing happened with Kerala. You can never know what will happen. They have a good team and in Kolkata, they have 60-70,000 people supporting them. So we will wait till the next game,” said Materazzi.
Materazzi has always been full of praise for Atletico de Kolkata coach and believes he will have a trick up his sleeve in this do-or-die battle.
“I know his potential and the kind of coach he is, you can expect everything from a good coach like him,” said Materazzi.
Atletico de Kolkata suffered their biggest reverse in the Indian Super League and it could not have come at a worse time for the defending champions. A 3-0 defeat seems too much to overturn in the reverse fixture but given Kolkata’s big wins in the past and the huge crowd, nothing should be beyond them.
“We have 90 minutes more in Kolkata. We conceded three goals (in Pune), we can also score three then. Let’s see,” said coach Habas.
Kolkata will need to play out of their skin to get a positive result especially since their rivals will welcome marquee player Elano Blumer and defender Mehrajuddin Wadoo, both of who were suspended for the last game. Kolkata have problems off-field too with no word yet on the fitness of influential midfielder Borja Fernandez who was replaced in the first leg due to injury.
Despite the dark clouds hovering above them, Kolkata can take comfort that they have defeated Chennaiyin FC twice in the league stage this year. The first win was a nervy 3-2 scoreline in the opening game this season in Chennai and the reverse fixture saw a 2-1 victory for the hosts after being a goal down.
Kolkata, however, will need a lot more on Wednesday as the defending champions try to defend the crown they won a year ago.
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