New Delhi: Hosts NorthEast United FC will be desperate for three points against table-toppers Chennaiyin FC in a bid to rescue their Indian Super League campaign, in Guwahati on Friday.
NorthEast are ninth in the standings with seven points from nine matches and need a string of wins in the second half of their campaign to entertain any hopes of making it to the semifinal play-offs. Chennaiyin have 20 points from 10 outings.
Despite hiring Avram Grant as the new coach, the home team went down 0-1 to Atletico Kolkata. NorthEast’s assistant coach Eelco Schattorie though said the team were up for the fight.
“The overall atmosphere is fine. Players have the intention to do their job. They are motivated to do something together. Regarding the team gelling or getting tactics implemented, that always takes time, specially offensively,” Schattorie said at a pre-match media interaction on Thursday.
“Defensively we don’t have too many problems,” he said. “We play the number one team and normally as a coach, you don’t have to motivate anyone if you play the number one in the league,” he added.
NorthEast have signed Helio Pinto as their eighth overseas player and the former Benfica midfielder could play on the morrow.
Chennaiyin FC will hope to accumulate another win on the road to remain on top, though their coach John Gregory will serve out his three-match suspension in the match.
