Forty-eight hours before their crucial second semifinal match against Chennaiyin FC at the Salt Lake Stadium on coming Wednesday, Atletico De Kolkata’s Spanish coach Antonio Lopez Habas seems to be in deep anxiety as his two key men in the first eleven, Borja Fernandez and Ofentse Nato are almost going to be ruled out of the match due to their respective injuries.
Like Borja, Nato the midfield man who can also play as a central defender has been suffering from a hamstring injury since their first semifinal encounter against Chennai where they were drubbed 3-0. And now, to ensure a berth in the final ATK must have to win by a margin of 4-0 goals in their second semifinal at home on Wednesday.
And in this wary situation, Habas seems to have no alternative than bringing his marquee footballer Elder Poschiga into the first eleven in the second semifinal.
The former Real Madrid striker who has been training with the team for the last couple of weeks claimed that he is fully fit to play the match. Habas, however, did not speak on the issue on Monday.
But one of his associates of the coaching staffs commented on condition of anonymity, “I do not feel chief coach will finally able to get service of Borja and Nato in the second semifinal as it too tough for these two players to become fit within next 48 hours. And in that case, Poschiga is all set to take part in the second semifinal. But if none of Borja and Nato fails to turn around then no doubt, it will be a big blow for us.”