ATK begin their 2019 Hero Super Cup campaign when they take on Hero I-League side Real Kashmir FC at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Monday. The Kolkata-based side come into this tournament on the back of a sixth-placed finish in the 2018-19 Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL), while Real Kashmir impressed many with their performances during their debut Hero I-League campaign. Given the quality at hand, fans can expect an exciting encounter on Monday.

At the pre-match press conference, head coach of ATK, Steve Coppell was present to share his views on the tie. The Englishman began by showing his appreciation for Real Kashmir, given their meteoric rise over the past year. “I have seen quite a few of their games on TV and they are a team that deserve and demand respect. They have some really good players and they have a particular style which has produced a lot of goals. Hopefully it will be a really good game.”

Continuing on the same note, Coppell also lauded his counterpart David Robertson for the work he has put in as head coach: “You judge people on what they do and not what they have done. Finishing third in the I-League in their debut season is a great achievement. They play very attractive football and he has done a great job. We know we are in for a tough game tomorrow and may the best team win.”

ATK goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya was also present to address the media’s questions. When asked the approach his side would take, in comparison to a league encounter, he said, “It is almost the same. We have to win the game. If it is a draw, there will be extra-time, so our approach will be similar to a league game.”

From Real Kashmir FC’s end, head coach, David Robertson weighed in with his views on a variety of topics. He began by picking out the differences between the Hero I-League and Hero Super Cup. “There is really a big difference and obviously the level of playing against, Hero ISL is a step up. So, they’ve got a budget lot more than ours. Maybe their top foreign players are more than our overall budget. So, we know it is going to be a tough game. But like every game this season, we’ve been underdogs and we’ve just gone and enjoyed the first season in the Hero I-League, and the step up. Tomorrow is another little bit of history for the club as well. First time in the Hero Super Cup. So, it’s been a fantastic couple of years here,” he said.

The Ex-Rangers man then, had his say on tomorrow’s opponents, ATK. He voiced, “As I said before, it’s going to be a very difficult game. They’ve got highly experienced players there. I mentioned before the budget is multiple times what ours is. The way we’ve gone about this season. Every game we’ve played, there were only two teams who beat Chennai City. We beat them twice. On our day, we can beat anyone. I think for us it is a good test for our players and the team to see how far we’ve come.”

The Scottish coach also revealed the key reasons behind his team’s rapid rise. “I think it’s just been the team spirit, togetherness from the ownership through to the ball boys, the kit men, everything. Everybody has played a huge part. We’ve spent a long time because of our logistics. Even in I-League two we spent a lot of time, 30 days at a time, on the road, together, staying together. It’s the same this season as well. I think the team spirit and the bond and I think the hunger as well this season has been huge,” he said.