'Sometimes football is really unfair' - Juan Pedro Benali after loss to Punjab FC

Juan Pedro Benali made some critical remarks on the refereeing in this ISL fixture.

NorthEast United were handed a tough 0-1 defeat by Punjab FC at home. The HIghlanders were missing a lot of key players and looked very scrappy in attack. Punjab FC were the more dominant side with the front trio firing on all cylinders coming into the game.

Tondonba Singh was found guilty by the referee as he awarded Punjab a penalty in the second half and Wilmar Jordan Gil made no mistake to open the scoring for his side against his former employers. After the match, NorthEast United FC’s head coach Juan Pedro Benali addressed the media and shared his thoughts. 

Thoughts on the game

Sharing his thoughts on the game, the head coach said that the game was very unfair as his side did not deserve to lose and Punjab FC did not deserve to win.

“Well, sometimes football is really unfair. We don’t deserve to lose the game. And Punjab don’t deserve to win. That’s clear. But some decisions change the game. I don’t know if it was a decision in other area also or not. But this is how it is.”

He also added that he is proud of the way his players played.

“Today I’m proud of the players. We fought and played a good game. The problem is, well, Punjab FC create nothing. But when we arrive in three quarters, we start that lack of movement up to finish the chances we create in the area. That’s the problem we have,” he quipped.

Absence of key players

NorthEast United FC were missing many key players in Hamza Regragui, Tomi Juric and Asheer Akhtar. The head coach was asked if the absence of these players caused any difference for his side. He agreed and said that the players who were missing today form 40% of the team.

“Of course. You know, we’re talking about 40% of the squad. But well, defensively we didn’t suffer. That’s the truth. Punjab’s strength was always Madih Talal, and Luka Majcen and Jordan, but today they couldn’t do what they did in other games. 

He also added, “But of course, we need Tomi’s quality up front, and Hamza in midfield a little bit. But (Gaurav) Bora did a good job today in defense. But the problem was not in the defensive third. Our problem was that we were too much in hurry and unlucky in that penalty. 

Penalty

Punjab FC were awarded a penalty in the second half by the referee. But, there was a similar incident in the first half where NorthEast United’s players were claiming a penalty and it was not given by the officials. Speaking about the same, Juan Pedro Benali said, “The difference is the bravery of referees. Against some teams they were brave, against others they were not. Today he was brave against us. I think also the second half was another penalty. It was a hand in the other area. 

Benali also mentioned about the fourth official’s claim of a penalty in favour of his side was refused by the on-field referee. 

“The fourth referee told him, penalty, hand, hand, hand, penalty. The linesman was telling him the same. He said no. Well, it’s his decision. He’s the boss in the field. Also, I think after all the losing time, seven minutes. But we didn’t do anything in 90. Seven, eight, nine, doesn’t make a difference. In the end, we didn’t score. Congratulations to Punjab and that’s it,” he concluded.

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