NorthEast United FC would look to end the year on a high when they travel to the City of Dreams to face Mumbai City FC at the Mumbai Football Arena on Monday.
The Highlanders are coming into the fixture after a resounding comeback 5-2 win, after being 0-2 down away to Hyderabad FC. Mumbai City FC also won 1-0 at home against Chennaiyin FC. The Highlanders currently sit sixth in the table on 18 points, and a win on the road will see them jump above Mumbai City FC and Odisha FC.
In his pre-match press conference, NorthEast United FC’s head coach Juan Pedro Benali expressed that the team is focused on itself rather than the opposition.
“Every game is totally different, the approach is totally different. This is (Mumbai City FC) a different team, with different players. But it always depends on us. If we do our job, stick to our game plan, elevate the quality and fighting spirit, we will do a good job,” he said.
Juan Pedro Benali’s men are the highest-scoring side in the league (26 goals), the only team to have scored five goals more than once and have their forwards firing on all cylinders.
Against Hyderabad, Guillermo Fernandez scored a sensational brace to take his tally this season to four goals. With his glancing header, Moroccan forward Alaaeddine Ajaraie equalled Bartholomew Ogbeche for most goals scored for NorthEast United FC (12 goals) and continues to lead the charts for most goals and goal contributions. Jithin MS, who assisted Guillermo’s opener, is now the joint-top for the most assists this season (5 assists).
Mayakkannan, Mohammed Ali Bemammer, and Macarton Louis Nickson form the midfield fulcrum and have controlled the games for the Highlanders. Ali was instrumental in two of Highlanders’ five goals with his accurate balls over the top and the Moroccan midfielder, flanked by two Indian youngsters, would look to do the same against Mumbai City FC.
The club captain Michel Zabaco emphasised that the Highlanders’ strength is their unity. He added that as a captain and senior player in the team, it is his responsibility to guide and support the young players and lauded the team’s fighting spirit in the win over Hyderabad FC.
With the captain setting the tone himself, the High-scoring Highlanders would look to end the end on a high with another victory on the road, this time against Mumbai City FC.
( Photo Credit: North East United FC Media)
