NEUFC will be one of the top teams next season, claims Juan Pedro Benali

The NorthEast United boss also gave an important update on Tomi Juric.

After two back-to-back losses last month, Juan Pedro Benali’s NorthEast United will look to bounce back and take a crucial step forward in pursuit for the final playoffs spot this season. Next up, the Highlanders will host Kerala Blasters at home in a must win ISL encounter.

The first game between the two sides ended in a 1-1 draw in Kochi. NorthEast United will be keen to get a win against the Blasters for the first time since 2021. Ahead of the game, NorthEast United’s head coach Juan Pedro Benali and defender Asheer Akhtar addressed the media.

Hopes of making it to the ISL playoffs

When asked about his side’s hopes of making it to the knockouts, the Spaniard replied and said that the gap between his side and the sixth position is very narrow and the most important thing is to win.

“I always say the most important thing for us is the next game. The position of the table, of the league, we need to see the last game. Now, as you see, from us to the sixth position, it’s (the gap) very narrow. You win one game, you’re there. The most important thing is to win, not to drop points and not to make mistakes.”

He also revealed that he rewatched all the goals that his side conceded this season and how they dropped a lot of points in the process.

“Yesterday morning I was watching all the goals scored against us, and I think we dropped by little mistakes more than 17 or 19 points. From that 17 or 19 points, if we got only seven points, we would have been in a comfortable situation. But at the same time, we’re working very hard. The players are working very hard, and giving their everything. We deserve to be there, not more, not less than the others. We need to win our games, it depends on us,” he asserted.

Thoughts on Kerala Blasters

Kerala Blasters are expected to try out a whole bunch of new players and rest their key foreign players in this game. When asked if he feels this will be an advantage for his side, Juan Pedro Benali said, “I think it’s the contrary. I think we’re not playing against players’ names. I saw the two defenders and (Daisuke) Sakai also is here. We’re playing against Kerala Blasters. Any player who puts a shirt on for Kerala Blasters is dangerous.”

Benali said that the nationality of the players also doesn’t matter because his side will be playing against the entire team.

“When you play, you don’t look at nationality. Where is he from? Oh, he’s from England, he’s very good. He’s from Afghanistan, he’s bad. No, we’re playing against Kerala Blasters. And may be the players who have not played much will want to show to their coach that they deserve to play all the time, and they deserve to play in playoffs and everything. They will run more, they will give more, and they will be more concentrated and focused than the others,” he added.

Juan Pedro Benali provides important update on Tomi Juric

The head coach finally answered the highly anticipated question among NorthEast United fans and provided an update on star striker Tomi Juric. He said that the last test will determine Juric’s participation in tomorrow’s game.

“The last test will be tomorrow morning. Then we will be deciding. Also we will take feedback from the player; if he can play or not. If he can, he will not start from the beginning. But we’re not totally sure that he can play tomorrow,” he quipped.

Plan ahead

Speaking about his side’s plan moving into the final leg of the season, Juan Pedro Benali said that winning against Kerala Blasters and Chennaiyin FC is the most important thing right now.

“It’s a matter of details in the end. The most important thing is to win this game. Winning this game, you put pressure on the other teams. And the team which is not relaxed, is under pressure, and will make a lot of mistakes. This is why it’s very important for us to win this game. If we win this game and we get a good result in Chennai, then we are in. But the most important and the most difficult game is this one,” he explained.

Expectations ahead of the season

When asked about if he expected his team to be in the mix for a playoffs spot, Juan Pedro Benali said, “I was not thinking to be in the playoffs. I was thinking that we’d be far away because our aim was developing. But after the fifth game I was more positive. I was saying that we can do it. And I was thinking even not to suffer for the last games, I was thinking we can be in the first four or five, because we have a good group, we have good players, we have a good team.”

He also said that if his side doesn’t qualify for the playoffs this season, they’ll be one of the top teams next year.

“The issue was we were creating a lot of chances but not scoring, and the other teams were scoring from half chances. The game against East Bengal in Kolkata hurt us again. We then needed to start again from scratch to come back. Thank God we came back and we really believe that we are much better now. This is why I’m very, very positive. We can go to the playoffs and if we don’t go, we will be one of the top teams next season, that’s for sure,” he concluded.

Asheer Akhtar’s comments 

Season so far

Asheer spoke about his season so far and said, “So far it has been quite good for me because I got to play many matches. Individually too, as the coaches said, I have improved. But there is a long way to go. There are some areas where I still have to improve. Until now, it has been good. Now we are looking forward to the upcoming matches.”

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