Denzil, Augustin To Straighten Edges For Habbas's Eyes ?

Denzil Franco can defend without blemishes when at his best

 Doubts about their chances of making it to the starting eleven of Atletico de Kolkata will hover on the minds of Goan players Augustin Fernandes and Denzil Franco as they prepare for the flight to Spain on August 25 with the rest of the team for their pre-season preparations. “I am not sure yet whether it is right to call the trip a pre-season training or not . I have yet to receive the details but, all the Indian players are leaving for Spain on August 25,” stated team manager Avishek Bhattacharjee in a chat with The Goan.

Denzil Franco played four games for Atletico last Indian Super league (ISL). He has been out due to injury ever since. Despite clearing his medicals, Denzil has to put on his thinking hat to fathom  his chances as Atletico signed  Rino Anto for ninety odd lakhs. The money spent is not the problem. Rino has had an excellent season as a right back in the last I league and that is the reason to be worried.  It is going to be form versus enthusiasm.

Augustin Fernandes, who plays as a stopper for Salgaocar Football Club, is making his presence in the ISL for the first time. He was picked up through the Players Draft.  Arnab Mondal and Spain’s Jose Miguel Gonsalez  were the two stoppers employed last season. Arnab was one of the Indian players who impressed. His reading of the game and ability to maintain his fitness will make Augustin’s road to the first eleven a bit itchy at the start. However, Augustin has the talent to take the extra step and the experience he soaks in Spain, could be pivotal.

The left back position is relatively open, to be claimed by the ATK defensive stir ups. It is here that they will have to impress coach Antonio  Habas. Anto , Denzil and even to an extent, Augustin  can play in the left back position. Who outclass whom, will be known as the team returns to India. Denzil goes to Spain not having played competitive football for a year.

The choice of getting Portuguese striker Helger Postiga as their marquee player has only helped in augmenting the much hyped belief that Habas  orients his attacks through a safety net. “ Postiga is a very hardworking player. He can be seen around the field helping his team mates in the midfield and defense. But, as a striker he has never impressed.  As we say, he never showed strikers feet. We are happy he is in India,” wrote renowned Portuguese football commentator Raul Bras in an email to The Goan.

“The work he puts in can never be doubted. He has not scored enough to be able to call himself a striker of repute. He has not shone in Portugal or for that matter even in Spain. His shots at goal are not incisive and that is what differentiates a striker from the rest,” added Raul.

Atletico de Kolkata have to defend the ISL title. Are they going to do it by defending to the hilt ? And, then attacking ? The Italians did it for years.