Kolkata: Nothing else could have summed up ATK’s first home win much better than star man Robbie Keane’s moment of brilliance that had every bit of the trickery the Irish legend possesses in his kitty and coach Teddy Sheringham said he was delighted for his former teammate, now his captain.
“I am delighted for Robbie scoring his first goal, the way he scored it as well. Everybody was involved. We had to work very very hard for the result. We could have won by more goals but I am delighted that we won the game. I think it’s a fantastic result,” said the ATK gaffer after the match.
Returning from an injury he had sustained during the pre-season, Keane scored his first goal in over a year from a wonderful solo effort every bit worthy of the wild celebrations that sparked off.
A summersault followed by a vault, before the regular ‘Namaste’ that has become a reminiscent of marquee players of the franchise in the past two years. ‘I don’t celebrate like this,’ said the former Tottenham star later who rolled back years celebraring like a teenager after putting ATK ahead in the 78th minute.
The importance of the win was however visible in the joy of the 22, 478 people who had come to the Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium and went home happy, having witnessed their long time hero do what he does best, ‘score a goal.’
Playing against a team that had been tore apart with injuries and suspensions ATK failed to create clear cut chances and when they did, they had Keane involved. A cheeky dummy to send Zequinha clear on goal in the 40th minute was a treat to the eye, every bit of which spoke the quality of European players.
Frustrated by the lack of chances and quality final ball, Keane rifled one that somehow was saved by Arnab Das Sharma, Delhi’s third choice keeper. Nothing could however deny the striker his long await for a goal.
“The goal was a gift,” Delhi captain Pritam Moral retaliated later still admitting to the magic that left him standing clueless as Keane ran away with the winner.
As for assistant-coach Shakti Chauhan, who managed the Dynamos in the suspension of head coach Miguel Angel Portugal, he moaned the lack of a quality player in the attacking third, having lost captain and striker Kalu Ulche to injury. “We have injury worries but I wouldn’t like to use that as an excuse. We need to be sharp enough in the final third and score more goals.”
Sheringham, Keane differ
Former teammates at Tottenham and long time friends Robbie Keane and Teddy Sheringham spoke differently of the ATK players going home for a short vacation before their next home match against Goa on the 3rd of January, 2018.
While rumours had it around that Robbie Keane along with the few other teammates will be flying back home for a short Christmas holiday before their next fixture, head coach Teddy Sheringham completely denied such news reiterating that players are here to play football and not go home on a holiday.
Taking to the media at the post-match conference, the former Manchester Untied star refused to accept any such news of star signing Robbie Keane going back home for two weeks during the Christmas and new-year season.
“I don’t know where this story is come from that he is going home for two weeks. He is here to play football. Thats what he is paid to do. Footballers do this over Christmas and new-years. That’s what I have done for 25 years, that’s what Robbie has done for as much as well. He knows to score. He is here to play football and that’s what he wants to do and he is not going anywhere for two weeks,” said the ATK head coach.
Robbie Keane himself however confirmed the news later saying, ” I am going back home for a few days. We have a game on the third. Only spend a few days with the family over Christmas and come back.”