ISL 2017: ATK coach Teddy Sheringham commends team's desire to fightback after loss to Chennaiyin
Desperate to get their ISL 2017 campaign going, defending champions ATK put up a spirited showing, but in the end went down 2-3 away from home at Chennaiyin FC in a thrilling contest. After a goalless first half, the game picked up pace as five goals were scored with the visitors twice coming back to level the game before hosts Chennaiyin snatched a late winner.
It was a tough blow for ATK and their coach Teddy Sheringham as they fought back gamely. In the end, it was a bit of an error that led to Chennaiyin's winner as goalkeeper Debjit Majumdar's parry fell into the path of Jeje Lalpekhlua and the Indian marksman coolly slotted it into goal. Sheringham admitted the error from his side, but said that it's not something he's going to take his side to task for.
"We need to avoid the mistakes", said the former Manchester United man after the game.
"But I won't have a go at my players for making mistakes. As long as they keep showing me that desire that they showed tonight to get back not once but twice, I'll be happy with that. I've just been in there and told them that I'm proud of them," exclaimed the Englishman.
He also said that he didn't want to single anybody out for the errors because they were collective ones.
"Yes, we made a mistake at the end. It wasn't just one mistake, we shouldn't have allowed them in our area in the first place," conceded Sheringham. "We can't put that down to one person. We win as a team, we lose as a team."
Sheringham also said he felt an element of misfortune as with regards to all the goals.
"The first goal, the linesman points for a goal-kick and the referee awards a corner. The second goal we had a bad deflection at a crucial time. And the third goal, they were allowed to get into our box," he said before reflecting on how his player's fight made for a great game of football. "But again, the desire of my players to do the right things was great. It was a fantastic game with respect to neutrals who were watching the game and that's good from my point of view."
Chennaiyin broke the deadlock when they went ahead in the 65th minute. Just four minutes prior, Sheringham had introduced the former Tottenham Hotspur and Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane, their marquee player, into the game.
He had a huge hand in ATK's comeback setting up both goals. His ball into the box led to the opportunity for the first goal which was eventually scored by Zequinha. And it was his through ball to Njazi Kuqi that saw the big forward make it 2-2.
"I wanted him to get onto the pitch and make things happen and he did that. Unfortunately, we lost the game," said the ATK coach about Keane's impact.
ATK took off their central defender and captain, Jordi Figueras before the hour mark and Sheringham explained the injury that the Spaniard had picked up.
"He had a bit of a tight hamstring and he was just feeling it a little bit and had trouble getting up and down," said Sheringham as he concluded matters.