NorthEast United coach Robert Jarni: The Qatar game was nearly perfect

The NorthEast United head coach spoke about India’s chances and why they can expect a positive result against Bangladesh.

The Indian football team recently clashed against the Indian Super League (ISL) outfit NorthEast United FC managed by Robert Jarni, in a preparatory friendly before their upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh on October 15. The tie ended in a stalemate with each side scoring one goal apiece. While Sunil Chhetri scored for the national side, it was the new recruit for the Highlanders, Asamoah Gyan, who leveled the proceedings just before half time.

The newly-appointed head coach of the Highlanders, Robert Jarni, spoke after the match and pointed out how the Blue Tigers should expect a positive result against Bangladesh in their upcoming World Cup qualifier. He also mentioned the gameplay by the Indians against Qatar, when Igor Stimac’s men performed sensationally and secured a draw.

[KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] "Tactically, the game against Qatar was nearly perfect. India could have scored towards the end of the game and taken all three points from there," Jarni said. "But now, against Bangladesh, they need to prove the point and I think, with this set of players whom Stimac has chosen, the Blue Tigers can expect a positive result against Bangladesh."

However, India received a huge blow in their friendly game against NorthEast United, as Sandesh Jhingan was substituted early in the first half. Further analysis confirmed that the center-back has suffered an ACL tear, that may rule him out for a period of as many as six months. Considering how vital the Kerala Blasters captain has been for the national side, it definitely poses a challenging situation for Stimac.

[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News | Article Continues Below"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]

India host Bangladesh at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on October 15, which has become a must-win game for the hosts, if they are to finish among the top two teams in the group. Bangladesh recently lost their fixture against Qatar on Thursday and would be looking to bounce back and make amends.

Stimac, however, remains focused on improving the team’s performance before the clash. He spoke in that context and said, "We'll need to work on set-pieces, combinations and choose the best XI for the game. We have another four days for recovery before the match," He said after the friendly match. "The boys are ready. We're very excited to go to Kolkata.”