ISL 2021-22: We tried our best – NorthEast United FC’s Khalid Jamil after disappointing season

NorthEast United FC’s head coach Khalid Jamil admitted that his team gave their best but could not get the results on their side after a disappointing run in the eighth season of the Hero Indian Super League. The Highlanders played their last league stage match against SC East Bengal in the 104th match of the tournament at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Monday.

The match ended in a stalemate at 1-1 as NorthEast United FC and SC East Bengal shared the spoils. Sahanek gave the lead to Highlanders in the 45th minute but SC East Bengal equalized after Perosevic scored through the penalty in the 55th minute.

NorthEast United FC could only manage three wins in 20 matches and they will finish the season in 10th place. The club could only bag 14 points throughout the season as they failed to come up with consistent performances.

Speaking on the learning from the season, Khalid Jamil said in the post-match press conference, “The biggest learning I’ve got is that I got more chances for seven-eight matches. We tried our best because in the ISL, there was a lot more tough competition this year. All the teams are good. So, we got this experience and the second thing, it is good that we tried all the players, and that is a good point. We gave everybody a chance to play”.

Meanwhile, Khalid Jamil still has one year left in his contract with NorthEast United and he would look to turn the tables in the next season.

On his vision to take the club to new heights in the next season, Jamil said, “Yeah, talking about this. Before we started the season, I spoke to John sir and Priya madam, and they told me that they want to win the cup. But unfortunately, I was not up to the mark this year. We, everybody tried. I’m not blaming the players, I’m talking about myself. But I tried my best, but the results were not favoring us. And talking about next year, yes I have one year contract with them and let’s see what is the future”.

Jamil added that the club tried to give everything on the field but could not get the results on their side, which was disappointing for them.

He added, “Yeah, talking about the club. They gave us everything. Whatever I told them, they gave us. There is no complaint about it. Talking about this only it was a big problem in our football, that we didn’t win the games initially. Then in the middle, we got injuries to some players. Then we brought in new players and they also need some time. Then I tried my best in seven-eight matches and then a new person came in and he also tried. So it was a mix”.