Postiga doubtful for ATK's two home games

Kolkata Oct 20 : Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Atletico de Kolkata (ATK)'s marquee player Helder Postiga indicated that he might not be playing his side's next two home games saying he still feels a recurring pain in his rib.

"I feel much better. I have started training with team. I hope I can help the team more quickly," Postiga, who picked up a rib injury against Kerala Blasters in Kochi, said here on Wednesday.

Asked how soon can the Portugal forward be seen in action, Postiga said, "We will decide with the coach (Jose Molina). I just started training easy with team. I won't feel 100 percent now. With rib injury it is better to wait for sometime. After one week or so I think I will be fit to play."

Postiga said it is good news for Indian football that Bengaluru FC have made the final of the AFC Cup becoming the first team from the country to do so.

"I saw the first 30 minutes. It is good news for Indian football. Indian players are a lot younger this time. They are better."

Postiga assured that his injury this time is not as bad as last time where he played just 74 minutes of ATK's opening game against Chennaiyin FC.

"The injury is not like last year. It was different last year. This is not so bad."

Postiga said there is no cause for worry as they are yet to lose a game. In ISL, two consecutive wins can catapult a team into the top four, which assures a semi-final berth.

"It's a short league. Like last year FC Goa started bad and still reached the final. It is important not to lose games like us. Two or three games you win and you are top here."

According to Postiga all teams have more quality this term and you cannot name favourites.

"All teams have more quality this year than last year. I think this year the championship is harder."

Indian full back Pritam Kotal said somehow the combination at the back is not working which has led to conceding late goals, and it needs some time.

"Individual mistakes are causing late goals. Somehow our combination at the back is not working. It needs time. We are working on it."

Kotal said the presence of players like Postiga and Iain Hume make fellow Indians realise the importance of off field basics like nutrition.

"We learn so many things from them. What we didn't do early on like not having the kind of food which is harmful. These are the things to learn."

Kotal, who plays for Mohun Bagan, added that Bengaluru FC's win will help other teams believe they can go the extra yard too.

"I saw the first 45 minutes. We never think we can reach the final of an AFC Cup as an Indian club. Next time we play, we will believe we can do it too," Kotal said.