NorthEast United's Juan Pedro Benali highlights 'struggles' ahead of Mohammedan SC clash in ISL

Both sides will meet for the second time this ISL season.

Juan Pedro Benali’s NorthEast United FC are all set to host Mohammedan SC in a match of the Indian Super League (ISL), on 3rd January 2025 at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium, Guwahati. This is the second-leg match between them.

Both teams faced each other on 16th September 2024, where Alaeddine Ajaraei’s late goals helped the Highlanders open the ISL season with three points. Juan Pedro Benali, head coach of NorthEast United FC, shared his thoughts about the club and the upcoming clash in the pre-match press conference.

Mohammedan is a bleeding animal

The Spanish gaffer compared Mohammedan SC to a bleeding animal. Juan Pedro Benali said, “Mohammedan is a bleeding animal. He’s not dead. And the animal, if you don’t kill him, is very dangerous. Very, very dangerous. We need to be very careful, have our feet on the ground, stay humble, and do our job.”

About the problems in the club

Juan Pedro Benali also shared his thoughts about the Highlanders’ problems with ISL clubs that are not performing well in ISL. He said, “Against big teams, we are motivated. We don’t need motivation. When you play against a team on paper lower than us, they’re not lower than us, they’re not smaller than us, but on paper, we just relax a little bit.”

The Spanish coach gave an example of the Highlanders’ last three games against Hyderabad FC. Juan Pedro Benali said, “Against Hyderabad FC last season, the two games last season: draw here, 1-1; draw there, 2-2. We could have won 9-0 in the first half. Many games like this. This is why we need to be very focused.”“That was North-East’s problem since last season,” he added.

About the approach

Answering a question about the team’s approach, Juan Pedro Benali said that the approach will be different from the one against Mumbai City FC. The Highlanders defeated the Islanders in an away game by three nil.

“The approach is different than the approach against Mumbai. This approach must be. This is the game that confirms the win against Mumbai. If we don’t win this game, or we don’t get the best out of ourselves in this game, what we did before is for nothing,” said Juan Pedro Benali.

About the club’s future

Juan Pedro Benali also talked about the contribution of John Abraham, the club’s owner. He said, “It’s not easy for a gentleman who’s been putting money from his pocket for the last 10 years and just receiving slaps, slaps, slaps, slaps. And everybody blames him. If you want to blame somebody, put money and blame.”

“Now, he promised a trophy. He delivered. And for me, all the respect to the gentleman, all the respect to Mr. Mandar. Both of them worked very hard. They have the same idea. And if you see slowly, slowly, the team will change,” Juan Pedro Benali added.

He urged the fans to be patient. “Don’t ask for change very quickly, because it takes time. But they are making a solid club youth structure, administration, medic, fields, players, and vision. The objective of this club is now clear.”

The Spanish coach stated that the club aims to extend its reach across the nation’s eight states, ensuring that everyone becomes a part of it. “This club is for everyone. And as I said, this is a message to every player, everywhere. The club is open for everyone.”

“This is why it’s NorthEast United, not Guwahati FC,” Juan concluded.

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