NorthEast United FC head coach Juan Pedro Benali has revealed how he motivated his team at halftime during Indian Super League match against Hyderabad FC at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday.
The Highlanders were trailing by 2-1 during the break and Benali wanted his team to play like they always play. The Nawabs took a 2-0 lead with Edmilson Correia scoring twice in the first 12 minutes of the game and the Spaniard was not at all happy after they conceded twice early into the game.
However, Guillermo Fernandez scored a brace whereas Alaaeddine Ajaraie continued his purple patch to find the back of the net. The home team also conceded two own goals.
“We knew that it would not be easy to play against Hyderabad FC, because the history says that we didn’t win against Hyderabad FC since 2019,” Benali said in the post-match press conference.
“It was tough a little bit. We made two mistakes in the beginning, but the players reacted, and we went back to the game,” Benali shared.
Speaking on how he motivated his team during the break.
“Be NorthEast United FC because, in the first half, we were not NorthEast United FC. We just walk; we just leave Hyderabad FC to do whatever they want.”
“It’s like saying the two goals in the first ten minutes were like, Hey, what’s going on? We started doubting, and in the dressing room, we said, Hey, just be ourselves, just be the Wolves; we know who we are. Just fight, just fight, just go for the ball, just play, do what we train, and it happened in the second half. Three points,” he explained.
With this win, NorthEast United FC climbed to the sixth spot in the league standings with 18 points from 12 games.
“It’s not important to be in the top 6 at this moment,” the head coach remarked.
“I wanted to be in the top 6 in the last game of the season. Now it’s important to gain points, to get as many points as possible,” Benali signed off.
NorthEast United FC will next take on Mumbai City FC at the Mumbai Football Arena on Monday.
