Guwahati: After back-to-back stalemates, NorthEast United will be looking to get back to chasing a playoffs berth when they host ATK at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Saturday.
Both teams are on an unbeaten run of four games and while NorthEast were held to draws by Jamshedpur and Bengaluru in their last two fixtures, ATK’s visit will be on the back of a thrilling 3-2 victory on the road to Chennaiyin.
NorthEast are third on the league table with 19 points after 10 matches. ATK are not far behind, at place 6 with 15 points after the same number of rounds.
The Highlanders’ best ever points tally in the ISL was way back in 2015 when they finished fifth with 20 points.
A win on Saturday will make it their best ever ISL season, something Schattorie will be keen to achieve in order to highlight the progress the team has made under him.
In their previous match, the Highlanders dominated and would have handed Bengaluru their first defeat of the season if not for an acrobatic injury-time equaliser by Chencho Gyeltshen.
Despite the late equaliser, Schattorie will have had plenty of positives to note down from the match.
However, the Dutchman is concerned about fatigue building up, given this will be his team’s third match in eight days.
“I am worried that my biggest opponent tomorrow is fatigue. My goal is to stay in the top four but it is a huge task. Jamshedpur, Bengaluru and ATK have the same structure of defending,” Schattorie said.
ATK’s season has been swinging like a pendulum. After losing their first two games this season, Steve Coppell’s team has had mixed results.
But to their credit, they have only lost one match since their second-round loss to NorthEast United earlier this season (1-0).
With both the wide areas and the centre packed with exciting one-on-one contests, the winner of the tie will have to exude brilliance on the field to have an edge. (IANS)
