ISL: We know we can do much better – NorthEast United FC’s Juan Pedro Benali

NorthEast United FC’s head coach Juan Pedro Benali believes they can do much better in the next season of the Indian Super League. The Highlanders finished the Indian Super League 2023-24 season in seventh place in the standings with six wins in 22 games and thus could not seal their playoff place. This was the first season for Benali as the chief head coach of NorthEast United FC.

The club was able to turn the tables in the recently concluded season after finishing as the cellar dwellers in the 2022-23 edition.

“Well in the beginning it was tough. Different mentality, different food, different country, different everything. But thanks to god that we are totally integrated, we’re home. Beautiful experiences, beautiful adventure. Thanks to the players and thanks to the people in the club and support from the owners and the management made sure that every single day was important,” he said in an interview with NorthEast United FC.

The gaffer reckons players’ positive mentality has helped them turn a corner in the tournament and they want to keep going strong.

“We cannot say that we have only Indian players. In India, each player comes from a different region, different area, and different mentality. We have players from Shillong, Manipur, Punjab, Delhi, Kerala, Kolkata and here (Guhawati).. It’s a totally different mentality.

“Then we have foreign players from Spain, Morocco, Brazil, France and Palestine, it was not easy but the players got together and helped us a lot and that was the reason we stayed here. throughout the season and that was the reason we stayed here. I am sure if in the beginning of the season, if they told everyone that in the last few games, we’ll be playing for the playoffs and doing what they are doing..playing the way we do and with the spirit we have, You know in the end we say I can do better and we know we can do much better,” the Spaniard explained. 

Benali highlighted that it was a good learning season for him as well as the team and he is optimistic of a more improved show in the next edition.

“We can see the transition this year, the year for me to learn about Indian football to know everything about the Indian football such as how they think, how they play, what is their weakness and what their strength is. For players it was not easy to learn what we want from them. The way we want to play, the way we want to win and survive and now it starts the era of winning. This is the start of an era where we have to be really hungry and put our stamp in the league. We will make a beautiful year..This season was the season to prepare the team, to prepare the players, to know the players, they know us and the next season is about win, win and win from now,” he asserted.