"These Were Nice Three Points": NorthEast United FC’s Juan Pedro Benali

NorthEast United FC head coach Juan Pedro Benali was delighted with his team’s gritty 3-2 victory over Odisha FC in the Indian Super League on Sunday, a win that propelled them to fifth in the standings.

After a game marked by defensive resilience and offensive prowess, Benali spoke about his satisfaction with the three points while highlighting areas for improvement.

“It was a very nice game. Good to watch. It was nice for the fans. We played against a very good team that played good football, so these were nice three points,” Benali said during the post-match press conference.

Though pleased with the outcome, Benali was candid about the team’s need for growth in certain moments, noting that they had let slip significant leads before ultimately securing the win.

“I am very satisfied with the result, but you always feel that we need to improve in some moments. In the end, I felt we could have scored a few more goals; they could have got the draw as well. We were lucky this time but we got the three points,” he added.

The Highlanders had twice held a two-goal advantage over Odisha FC, only to find themselves defending against a determined comeback in the dying minutes.

Benali acknowledged the need for improved game management when his side is in the lead, especially as NorthEast United FC has dropped ten points from winning positions this season.

“The problem in the second half was that when they received the ball we were just dropping back. We didn’t want that. We needed to push out as the moment we pressed them we were able to reach their goal easily. The moment we left the space in the middle, we suffered, especially after that first goal,” Benali explained.

He further commented on the mindset of his young squad, praising their determination to win while emphasizing the importance of mental strength in tight situations.

“These are young players who are eager to win. It's important to be calm, but it’s easier said than done. You need to be very strong in your head, and it’s not easy,” he added.

Benali also reserved special praise for his goalkeeper, Gurmeet Singh, whose crucial saves in the final moments helped secure the victory. Singh’s performance, in Benali's view, made him the standout player of the match.

“Gurmeet saved 2-3 clear goals and was Man of the Match for me. He was very focused and gave a sense of calm to the defence,” Benali noted.

The match saw forward Alaeddine Ajaraie score twice, while Guillermo Fernandez also found the net. Benali emphasized the importance of having multiple players who can contribute to the scoreboard, which has added a new dimension to NorthEast’s attack.

“It’s important that other players are scoring goals and not just one player. Now we have Guillermo, Parthib, Jithin, and Nestor apart from Alaeddine,” he said. “We have players with different traits, so we can always score. The important thing is to be strong defensively as we know we are going to score.”

With their second consecutive home win, NorthEast United FC are showing promising signs, and Benali remains focused on improving their consistency as they continue their season.