NorthEast United FC head into the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season on the back of winning the first trophy in the club’s history after their Durand Cup triumph last month. The Highlanders defeated defending ISL champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant in penalties in the final, and that gives the team ample confidence heading into the long ISL season.
The club hosted a Media Day in Guwahati on Thursday and head coach Juan Pedro Benali insisted that the team is staying in the present and focusing on the controllable factors to secure the desired results.
“Right now, our entire focus is on the first game against Mohammedan SC. We are not thinking beyond that. For us, it doesn’t matter if we play home or away. There are minor changes, but no big difference. The expectation from the fans will always be there. We are happy about that. We want to have our heads held high up in confidence, but at the same time we want to keep our feet on the ground,” Benali said.
“NEUFC’s Durand Cup win to inspire other teams in Indian football”
NorthEast United FC CEO Mandar Tamhane, who joined the team last season after a 10-year-long stint with Bengaluru FC, expressed that the Durand Cup success is a testament to the strong mentality of the Highlanders. He mentioned that they overcame the odds to clinch the title and quipped that the result would inspire several teams in the Indian footballing landscape.
“Our Durand Cup success will give a lot of motivation to players, coaches, and teams alike. We were up against the Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who had several Indian national team players. We were at the Salt Lake Stadium, filled with more than 50,000 Mohun Bagan supporters. At least in the Kolkata Derby, the allegiances of the fans are divided between two teams, but here they were all Mohun Bagan fans. In such a situation for us to come back from 2-0 down at half-time, shows that mentality of our players and the coach,” Tamhane said.
“We are shouldering a big responsibility
The head coach shared insights about the mood inside the dressing room, reiterating that all their needs are well taken care of by the management. He stated that the team is maintaining a calm and positive outlook ahead of the campaign. The tactician hailed the familial spirit in the NorthEast United setup and clarified that his mental outlook going into the ISL 2024-25 is fresh and geared up for success.
“The mood in the dressing room is the same as it was last year. We are a family on our own. I am talking not just about the players, but also the people in the office, the ground staff, and everyone involved, they take a lot of effort in helping us feel at home. We have Mandar (Tamhane) and John (Abraham) looking after the smallest as well as the biggest of the necessities of the team. That is why the dressing room is calm. We know we have a big responsibility on our shoulders. I am starting this ISL season with a very fresh mind,” Benali said.
NorthEast United FC begins their ISL 2024-25 campaign against Mohammedan SC at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata, on Monday, September 16, at 7:30 pm before facing the ISL League champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant on September 23 at 7:30 pm. The club will play their first home game on September 29 at 7:30 pm against Kerala Blasters.
The ISL 2024-25 will kick off on September 13 with a match between Mohun Bagan and ISL Cup winners Mumbai City FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) on Friday, September 13, at 7:30 pm IST.
Indian Super League will be streamed live for free on JioCinema (English, Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam) and telecasted live on Sports 18 — 3 (English, Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam), Asianet Plus (Malayalam). Additionally, Sports 18 — 1, Sports 18 — 2 and Sports 18 — Khel will also broadcast live select ISL matches.
