The Highlanders face Odisha FC up next. Ahead of Northeast United’s 17th fixture assistant coach Alison Kharsyntiew and Captian Subhasish Roy Chowdhury addressed the media and here’s what they had to say.
The Highlanders host Odisha in the first match of Super Sunday and the Bhuvaneshwar based club’s efforts on the pitch have not gone unnoticed by Northeast United’s assistant coach and he knows how good they are. “They have done very well in the last game they played against Kerala Blasters. We have to go their with the right mentality and we have to give our best effort to win the game,” he said.
Northeast United FC’s latest recruit Deshorn Brown started from the bench against Hyderabad due to 3 stitches on his feet and giving us an update on the Jamaican he said, “Deshorn Brown is fine now and he has been training,”
Northeast United’s direct rivals for a play off spot Hyderabad FC were held to a 1-1 draw by Robbie Fowler’s SC East Bengal. On being asked about if the game against Odisha is a must win for them he said, “Ya, the main thing is that we don’t concentrate on other games but we concentrate on our performance and we will try our best tomorrow to get the 3 points,”
Coach Alison was asked if there’s a room for Complacency given their opponent’s recent form, he said, “No, No, No. We go there with a very serious attitude and like a said, we go there tomorrow we have to show the right mentality and be hungry. That’s the main thing. Our main objective is to win tomorrow’s match. That’s our only goal,”
The Highlanders parted ways with Spanish tactician Gerard Nus midway through the season and Khalid Jamil was handed the hot seat. On being asked about the factors that have worked well for Northeast United, Coach Alison said, “I have said from before that we haven’t changed a lot. We have only tried to strengthen our principles – to be more disciplined in defence and more creative in attack. Coach Khalid has been working very hard with the players, especially in encouraging the young players,”
Northeast United played out their second goalless draw against Hyderabad and the former Shillong Lajong FC manager told us about the areas where his side need to focus more on. “We need to be more clinical once we reach the final third and we need to utilise the chances we get in the match,” he expressed.
Diego Maurício is the silver lining to Odisha FC’s dark cloud and Northeast United FC Skipper Subhasish Roy Chowdhury told about how his side are planned to keep him in check. “He’s a good striker and we are planning which I can’t say it now, you can see after the match. Yes, obviously he’s a good player and we are also ready,” he added.
Northeast United posses one of the youngest squads in the Hero ISL. Skipper Subhashish Roy Chowdhury was asked about what is his pep talk during such crucial games and the 34 years old said, “Ya, we have lots of young Indian players and maybe some players are playing in the ISL for the first time. All the players are very good and now Khalid sir is here, so he is giving good advice and good teachings. So, they are ready to play tomorrow.”
