Juan Pedro Benali highlights key areas that need improvement after Chennaiyin FC loss

The Highlanders drop points after scoring first for the fourth time this season.

Juan Pedro Benali, head coach of NorthEast United FC, voiced his thoughts about the game against Chennaiyin FC on October 17th at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium, Guwahati. The Marina Machans defeated the Highlanders in an exciting contest of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season.

NorthEast United FC netted the first goal, but Chennaiyin FC slowly gained control of the match. Former NorthEast United player Wilmar Jordán scored two goals, and Lukas Brambilla scored a penalty for Chennaiyin FC. In the final minutes, the Highlanders tried to equalize against 10-man CFC but were unsuccessful.

Dissatisfaction with Some Players 

Juan Pedro Benali expressed his dissatisfaction with certain team members. Juan Pedro Benali said without mentioning names said, “If any player was out or something, you cannot blame me. I gave chances to some people, but they did not do the job. Now I have made my decision. I cannot accept this.”

“That is a lack of discipline. And in this team, we don’t accept a lack of discipline. If not, then you are out. We cannot accept this, we need to be loyal to these people who come to the field, loyal to our fans. And this is not loyalty,” Juan Pedro Benali added.

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Goals from set pieces 

NorthEast United conceded two goals from set pieces. The Michel Zabaco penalty also resulted from a small mistake following a corner. Responding to a question about the team’s struggles with corners, Juan Pedro Benali said the team has been practicing defending corners for the last six weeks. “I think, we have been training, defending the corners and the fouls, for the last six days. I don’t know how many times. But if it’s not one, it’s another one. We knew that was the danger.” 

Expanding on this and all three goals that the Highlanders conceded, Juan Pedro Benali said, “In the first corner, there was a foul first. Then they scored. The second was a second ball from a corner. We just didn’t mark well.

“Penalty? I don’t know if it was a penalty or not. I don’t tend to judge that. The referee decided a penalty, hence a penalty. Finally, the third one was just not getting to the first ball in the middle of the field. Suddenly we don’t mark properly again. The ball goes out, and we just think forward, losing all marks. Three goals from set pieces. We cannot accept that.” 

“It’s not good for us. It’s not at all good. It’s not good, especially when you work, keep working on it, and then you go to the field and don’t execute it,” Juan Pedro Benali opined.

Update on Guillermo Fernandez’s injury 

Guillermo Fernandez of Spain is back in training and is hoping to start the next game, according to Juan Pedro Benali. “We hope for the next game. He started running, working in the gym and has no pain. And tomorrow he will start running with boots, and we will see from there,” Juan Pedro Benali concluded.

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