ISL 2023-24: Chennaiyin FC deserved the win – NorthEast United FC’s Juan Pedro Benali after loss

NorthEast United FC’s head coach Juan Pedro Benali admitted that Chennaiyin FC deserved to win after their 2-1 loss in the 21st match week of the ongoing Indian Super League at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai on Tuesday.

After a goalless first half, Madathil Subran scored in the 49th minute to put the Highlanders in front. However, Aakash Sangwan found the equalizer for Marina Machans as he scored in the 72nd minute.

When it looked like both teams would have to settle for a point, Ankit Mukherjee scored the winning goal for the home team. With this loss, NorthEast United FC was knocked out of the playoff race.

“I think the fans and everybody else saw a very nice game, but it was not so nice for the coaches because it was full of ups and downs. We approached the game more calmly. It was a beautiful game, the final game for us,” Benali said in the post-match press conference.

“We spoke before the game that ‘If we draw, we do nothing (to help ourselves reach the playoffs)’. Even Owen Coyle mentioned the same, about which we were laughing. Both of us didn’t go for a draw and went for the win. Congratulations to Chennaiyin FC; they deserved it. I hope they will do very well in the playoffs,” he added.

Benali reckons a draw would have been a fair result as the match was evenly contested between the two teams.

“In football, sometimes you win, lose, or draw. Sometimes, football is unfair. A draw could be a fair result for today’s performance, but it was not helpful for any of us,” he commented.

Despite the hopes of making it to the playoffs gone, Benali wants his team to end the season on a high.

“For us, we have to keep working, head up, be proud of the players for what they did, and look forward to the next season,” he stated.

“We are still making some mistakes, but this football. If you don’t make mistakes, you can’t reach your goal. But, now, to finish the final game well against Odisha FC is the most important thing for us,” he signed off.

NorthEast United FC will play their last league stage match of the season against Odisha FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati on Saturday.