Molina unfazed by goal-shy ATK show

Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) head coach Jose Molina on Friday brushed aside talk of problems in front of goal ahead of their Indian Super League (ISL) semi-final, after striker Juan Belencoso missed a hatful of chances against FC Pune City here in a goalless affair.

"I think we did a great match. I think all my players played well. I wanted to give the likes of (Ofentse) Nato, (Kingshuk) Debnath a run-in. I am happy with Belencoso too. He is a striker and yes, I am not happy that he missed four chances. I am sure he is not happy too. But that happens," Molina told reporters after a 0-0 draw at the Rabindra Sarovar Stadium.

He rued the fact that his side has won only one match at home against Delhi Dynamos and said jokingly it would have been better if both legs of the semi-final were away games where the city franchise have fared better.

"It's not good that's true. In seven matches (we have) only one victory. If you want to criticise me, yes it's true that the results have not been good. I think we had chances to win, but sometimes things happen in football.

"The problem is the mistakes we did in some matches like in (FC) Goa, Delhi (Dynamos), Northeast (United FC) here, Chennai(yin FC), we have to learn from that mistakes. Then Kerala (Blasters) goal in the last match. The aim is to score more goals and enter the final.

"I wish both semis were away matches looking at the way we played in these 14 matches," Molina said tongue-in-cheek.

His counterpart and FC Pune City coach Antonio Habas -- playing for the first time in Kolkata against his former side ATK -- ducked questions on his former employers releasing a statement on Thursday after the wily coach had said he waited for ATK's call ahead of the third season to renew his contract but it never came.

--IANS

dm/ssp/vd