The biggest name playing in the 2017/18 Indian Super League is OUT of the first three games of the season. Irish legend Robbie Keane picked up an injury in Dubai.
ATK Head Coach Teddy Sheringham said,
“Robbie Keane has picked up an Achilles problem in Dubai, he’s been taking a few injections for it but will be out for the first few weeks”.
Just in: “Robbie Keane has picked up an Achilles problem in Dubai, he’s been taking a few injections for it but will be out for the first few weeks.” – Teddy Sheringham #HeroISLMediaDay #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/ng8Vs6llnJ
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) November 12, 2017
The Head Coaches of four of the ISL teams were all together at the weekend for the league’s official media day, and there were plenty of quotes and kit launches.
ATK Head Coach Teddy Sheringham also commented,
“Love the fact that we’ll have 60,000 fans screaming against us. We’ll be under pressure against a hostile atmosphere”.
.@WorldATK‘s head coach Teddy Sheringham and @JamshedpurFC boss Steve Coppell pose with the #HeroISL trophy in Kolkata. #HeroISLMediaDay #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/qUJJBOUO7N
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) November 12, 2017
Former Crystal Palace manager Steve Coppell, now in charge of Jamshedpur FC, is looking forward to the first match.
“It will be sweet to return to Kerala, a hotbed for football. Hoping for a good game on my return there and may the best team win on the night”.
He wasn’t going to get drawn on Jamshedpur’s title chances, however.
“I don’t think I can say anything about expectations because it’s a new team that doesn’t have much experience in the league”.
Coppell also said,
“Those of you who make it to the trip will appreciate all the work that is on going in the stadium”.
Andre Bikey, who will be crucial to Jamshedpur’s performances on the pitch, felt preseason had gone well.
“We have a good group of players. We are confident and happy after a good pre-season. So just looking forward to the start of the season now”.
NorthEast United could be dark horses. Their Head Coach, Joao Carlos Pires de Deus, believes they have India’s best player in their ranks.
“We have the best Indian player in our squad in my opinion, which is
@RowllinB. Halicharan and him are both part of the national team and we have other quality domestic talents as well”.
Dehli Dynamos are going to pass the ball around, according to their coach Miguel Angel Portugal.
“I hope we play possession football, but if we need to change our approach, I will. We will definitely try to keep as much of the ball as possible and always go for the win”.
The season starts in just 4 days as Kerala Blasters FC and ATK get us underway on Friday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.
