“In this league, it doesn’t matter whether we play home or away. For us, it’s important to play in front of our fans and we love it. At the same time, we like to play away and we are comfortable playing away,” NorthEast United FC head coach Juan Pedro Benali had said after the team’s 3-2 victory over Odisha FC.
NorthEast United FC will embark on a run of three consecutive away fixtures on either side of the international break starting with a visit to Bengaluru FC in match week 8 of the Indian Super League (ISL 2024-25) on Friday.
The Highlanders are hitting the road on the back of two consecutive home victories – 5-0 vs Jamshedpur FC and 3-2 vs Odisha FC. On the other hand, Bengaluru FC suffered a 3-0 defeat away to FC Goa.
The Highlanders’ head coach, Juan Pedro Benali, expressed that Bengaluru FC is a strong opposition and controlling finer moments would determine the game’s outcome.
“Bengaluru FC have a strong team, a good coach and are a difficult opposition (to face). They play nice, modern football. That’s why they are first (Top of the table). It will not be an easy game but we will do our best to get the result.” he said.
“Details will decide the game and whoever controls those details, will win. It will be the crucial moments – the opening and closing few minutes of each half – and if we control them, we will have a good game,” Benali added.
Mohammed Ali Bemammer, one of the team captains, expressed confidence in the team’s preparedness for the clash. “It’s never easy but everyone is focused and we always give everything. Of course, we are playing against a good team, and it will be a difficult match. However, we have prepared well this week for the game, we will go there and try and get the result,” he said.
The Highlanders’ Moroccan forward Alaaeddine Ajaraie, the first player ever to score in his first seven ISL matches, currently dons the armband of the league’s leading goal scorer with 9 goals. Add his four assists, he is the leading goal-contributor in the league.
However, Juan Pedro Benali’s men are not only dependent on Ajaraie for firepower. Nestor Albiach (3 goals), and Parthib Gogoi (2 goals) are in equally good form. It took Guillermo Fernandez only one touch in the box to open his account in the ISL against Odisha FC after coming on as a substitute.
National team head coach Manolo Marquez named Jithin MS in his provisional squad for the upcoming friendly against Malaysia, and the lanky winger with three assists so far would look to justify the coach’s faith.
Mayakkannan and Mohammed Ali Bemammer have formed a solid partnership in the middle of the park, and have been crucial in dictating the game’s tempo. The backline of Dinesh Singh, Ahseer Akhtar and Buanthanglun Samte, marshalled by the captain Michel Zabaco have been equally solid. In the eyes of head coach Benali, Gurmeet Singh was the player of the match for pulling off a point-blank save against Odisha FC.
Photo Credit: Northeast United FC Media
