Atletico de Kolkata, The team owned by Spanish La Liga Champions and UCL runners up Atletico Madrid and the former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly begin the tournament as favourites. The team went to Spain as a part of their preparatory camp and spent some valuable time under the eyes of Atletico coaches including Diego Simione. The team was unveiled at Athetico Madrid’s home ground Vincente Calderon last month.
They announced former Spanish defender and veteran manager Antonio López Habas as the club’s head coach, while Kolkata football legend Jose Barreto will serve as an assistant coach.
The team have also signed Luis García, the ex-Atlético de Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool striker who was instrumental in Liverpool’s Champions League-winning campaign in 2004-05, as its marquee player. García and his teammates will be mesmerising crowds at the famous Salt Lake Stadium.
Atletico de Kolkata Squad:
Goal Keeper:
Apoula Bete
Basilio Agudo
Subhasish Chowdry
Defenders:
Arnab Mondal
Biswajit Saha
Denzil Franco
Jose Rey
Kingshuk Debnath
Nallappan Mohanraj
Sylvain Monsoreau
Midfielders:
Borja Fernandez
Cavin Lobo
Climax Lawrence
Jaub Podany
Jofre Gonzalez
Lester Fernandez
Mohamed Mamun
Ofentse Nato
Rakesh Masih
Luis Garcia
Sanju Pradhan
Forward:
Arnal Carbo
Baljit Sahni
Fikru Lemessa
Mohammad Rafi
Mohammad Rafique
The team has a good mixture of youth and experience and their strength is their defence that has the likes of Arnab Mondal and Denzil Franco which is second only to Chennaiyin FC. Skipper Luis Garcia holds key in the midfield and will have his task cut out in creating chances for the forwards to net in the chances. Garcia has shown it in at the European and International stage and it should not be a problem for him to deliver for Atletico de Kolkata. Their defence might be an area of concern and the attackers might find it difficult to penetrate the opposition’s defence.
The Salt Lake stadium, which is the second largest in the World and the best in India will be the home ground for the team from Kolkata.
Atletico de Kolkata Schedule:
12 October: Mumbai City (H)
18 October: Delhi Dynamos (H)
20 October: FC Goa (A)
27 October: Kerala Blasters (A)
28 October: Chennaiyin FC (A)
7 November: Pune City (H)
10 November: North East United FC (A)
14 November: Chennaiyin FC (H)
18 November: North East United FC (H)
22 November: FC Goa (H)
29 November: Pune City (A)
2 December: Delhi Dynamos (A)
7 December: Mumbai City (A)
10 December: Kerala Blasters (H)