Technically Goa were very good, but it was our day, says Juan Pedro Benali

NorthEast United boss Juan Pedro Benali revealed the team talk at half-time.

NorthEast United bounced back with a statment 0-2 win over FC Goa away from home and reignited their quest for the ISL playoffs. An opening spot-kick goal from star striker Tomi Juric was followed by an own goal from Odei Onaindia.

It was also NorthEast United’s first away win after 24 games with their last away win coming 1,568 days ago against Hyderabad FC in 2019. It was a long wait, but it was surely worth it. After the match, NorthEast United’s head coach Juan Pedro Benali addressed the media and shared his thoughts.

Thoughts on the game

Sharing his thoughts on the game, Benali said, “I think we did well. In the first half, we stopped to see how Goa were playing and everything. We stopped them in the middle. We got three chances.”

He also shared the half-time team talk.

“We talked in the dressing room that we need to hold the ball a little bit more, and we can hurt them. That’s what happened,” he revealed.

An away win after four years

As mentioned above, NorthEast United won an away game after more than four years. When asked about his thoughts on the same, the Spaniard said, “Don’t talk to me about the past. It’s a great win in front of a great team. They have great players, a fantastic coach; technically they were very good. Well, but today was our day.” 

Goa’s starting line-up 

Juan Pedro Benali was quizzed if he was surprised to see Noah Sadaoui dropped from the FC Goa starting line-up.

He said, “You know, the problem is Goa have another two games very quick after us. Manolo (Marquez) knows me very well, how to play, and he thought that is the best option. Well, even when Noah came, we stopped him. He had two or three occasions to go. Dinesh (Singh) and the defenders did a great job.

“And Goa has great players. It doesn’t matter who plays. They’ve two key players injured. The new players are very good but still missing that character – that personality of the two players,” he concluded.

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