We could've drawn the game: Juan Pedro Benali
(Courtesy : ISL Media)
Juan Pedro Benali highlighted the things NorthEast United could have done better.
Odisha FC clinched their fifth consecutive win over NorthEast United in the third game of Gameweek 6. The Juggernauts took the lead in the first half following a blunder from NorthEast United’s keeper Mirshad Michu.
The Highlanders came out all guns blazing in the second half and put in all they had but just couldn’t find a way through Sergio Lobera’s side. After the game, NorthEast United FC’s head coach Juan Pedro Benali addressed the media. Excerpts are below:
Thoughts on the game
The head coach started by sharing his thoughts on the game. He said that the whole team was responsible for the mistakes in the first half.
“It is not just the goalkeeper’s mistake, but all of us made mistakes. In the first half we were not here, we were in Guwahati. They were all over the place and it was not us. In the second half, we changed with Romain and Pragyan Gogoi.”
He added, “We got our chances and we knew that they were very tired and they couldn’t go. We did not finish our chances. We could’ve drawn the game, but this is football.”
What could have been better?
Juan Pedro Benali was asked about what could’ve been better from his side. He replied and said, “Our shooting could’ve been better. We just have tried to finish our actions. We played good passes and went inside the areas, but we missed the last touch.”
Upcoming break
Benali spoke about how his side will utilize the upcoming international break. He said that the team needs to keep working hard and prepare for the next game.
“We are building a team as I always say. We have steps to go and work to do. We need to put our head up and work again and be prepared for the next game. That’s the only thing that we can do,” he asserted.
Message to the fans
Sharing a message to the fams, Juan Pedro Benali apologised for the mistakes in the first half and said that the team can go a long way if they continue to play the way they did in the second half.
“We are really sorry for the first half. They don’t deserve the team to play a first half like that. I’m the first one who made a mistake. In the second half we were NorthEast United. If we go and play how we played in the second half we will go far,” he concluded.
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Yash has been involved in the Indian Football circuit since his school days. He has been covering various sports since 2020 and has also covered a couple of on-ground events, including the 2022 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup in Odisha.