Defending champions ATK head coach Teddy Sheringham would under immense pressure to deliver the goods when his under-fire side take on high-flying Chennaiyin FC in an Indian Super League (ISL) clash at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Thursday.
Placed eighth in the ten-team points table after facing a harrowing 0-3 defeat in Pune, talk has been rife about Sheringham being shown the door after a string of underwhelming performances.
According to some in the know, irrespective of the result, the Englishman could be sacked after the Chennai game and technical director of the club Ashley Westwood tasked to coach the side.
ATK, in the 10 matches they have played so far, have won just three times losing four of them and playing out three stalemates.
Robbie Keane, who scored two goals for them in five matches, has also gone home due to an injury, leading Sheringham to rue the legendary Irishman's absence after their last game.
"We have got our best player out injured in Robbie Keane and our best Indian player out injured in Eugeneson Lyngdoh," Sheringham said.
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The former Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur star forward also complained about playing the first seven of their 10 matches away, saying that took a toll on the team.
"We are missing our top players. Add that to the fixture list; we have had seven of our first 10 league games away from home. For any team, that is going to take its toll on a team."
He further continued: "We've got five games on the spin at home now. We have put ourselves in a bad position. If you get the five games at home early on, you have got a chance of being up there. We are in a bit of a dull place at the moment, and we have the games, but we put pressure on ourselves by having seven away games and causing our problems ourselves."
Coming to Chennaiyin who are placed second in the table behind leaders Bengaluru FC, playing 11 games and having 20 points, getting back to winning ways will be on their minds against a lowly opponent lacking inspiration.
Chennai lost to NorthEast United FC 3-1 in their last outing, a result that can be termed as an upset.
The former ISL champions have looked in superb shape this season under coach John Gregory and beat ATK 3-2 at home in the reverse fixture.
It will be difficult for ATK to break Chennai's solid defence and a win for the home side on the morrow would be a huge upset considering their recent form. For the visitors, hotshot Indian striker Jeje Lalpekhlua has also been among goals, netting six times in 11 games.
--IANS
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