Ready to face anyone in the semi-final, says Juan Pedro Benali after Durand Cup quarter-final victory

The Highlanders have secured their place in the semi-finals for the second consecutive time.

NorthEast United booked their spot in the 133rd Durand Cup semis after defeating Indian Army with a 2-0 victory in the quarter-final held at the SAI Stadium in Kokrajhar, Assam, on Monday. The team have secured a semi-final spot for the second consecutive time. Juan Pedro Benali was happy with his players’ performance.

NorthEast United dominated the first 15 minutes of the game creating clear chances in front of goal, but failed to convert them. The deadlock was finally broken in the 52nd minute when Guillermo Fernández headed down a long ball from left-back Buanthanglun Samte, which was finished on the volley by Nestor Albiach.

The Spaniard’s left-footer beat the Indian Army goalkeeper, Bhabindara Malla Thakuri, who had been delivering a standout performance throughout the match.

After the match, in an exclusive interview with Khel Now, NorthEast coach Juan Pedro Benali shared his thoughts on the game.

All challenges accepted: Juan Pedro Benali

Expressing his thoughts on the game, Juan Pedro Benali discussed the difficulties of playing in hot and humid conditions. Benali mentioned, “We knew this was going to be a cautious game. The field condition was poor, especially in the second half, with hot and humid weather making it difficult to play.”

“The Indian Army team performed well in their last three games. They are a tough opponent and they did not give us even a second to breathe in the match. Whatever the case or situation, we are the Highlanders and every game we play is only to win, that’s it,” Juan Pedro Benali said.

When asked about the next opponents in the semi-final, Benali said the team are ready to face any challenge. “This is football; anything can happen. We never know who we’ll face, but whoever it is, we respect every opponent. We welcome the challenge and are ready to face anyone in the semi-finals,” said Juan Pedro Benali.

On the team’s passing issues, Benali said, “That’s not important. Let the other team win possession; we want to win the game. Everybody is working hard, from the forwards to the midfielders and defenders. It’s a team effort and the most important thing is to focus on the next game.”

“The most important thing we always look at is not just who scores, but the team. For us, the key is that the team scores and the opponent doesn’t score against us.” Juan Pedro Benali added.

Parthib Gogoi injured, ready to return in next match?

When asked about Parthib Gogoi’s absence from the squad, coach Juan Pedro Benali confirmed that he was injured. “We hope he can return in the next game. As for Jithin MS and the other players, I will check tomorrow morning to see what happens,” he said.

NorthEast United have never won any senior title since their foundation. At the ongoing Durand Cup, the team are aiming to secure their first major silverware.

Guillermo Fernandez’s scorpion-kick

The club’s new signing, Spanish striker Guillermo Fernandez, has scored in the last three consecutive games in the Durand Cup. In the 73rd minute of the game, the team doubled their advantage through a stunning ‘scorpion-kick’ finish by Fernandez.

Guillermo told Khel Now, “We create opportunities but not always succeed in scoring. I saw the pass from Redeem Tlang, it was behind me, so I put my foot out and I felt lucky that it went into the net. It feels wonderful when we score goals and the team wins.”

“I am thrilled. The team is like family to me. The thing I want most is to play the next match and win,” he noted when asked about his experience playing in India for the first time.

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