NorthEast United FC will play Odisha FC in their penultimate home game of the 2022-23 ISL season in Guwahati on Friday. It will be the penultimate game for Odisha FC.
It is a game that Odisha FC must win if they are to reach the top six. NorthEast United FC has nothing but pride to play for.
It has been one of the Highlanders’ worst seasons in their history as they have managed to win just one game, lose 15 and draw two. They set the record for most successive losses in the Indian Super League.
Odisha FC made a good start to the season, but a mid-season dip in form saw them drop out of the top six positions.
The good thing for the Kalinga Warriors is that they have matters in their own hands. If they manage to win their last two games, they should be able to make the top six.
Both coaches addressed the media before tomorrow’s game.
When asked about the coach’s opinion on tomorrow’s game and his team’s preparations for it, this is what Vincenzo Alberto Annese had to say:
“It will be a tough game. But we have been improving with each passing day. If you look at our performances in the previous game against East Bengal, you will see how we have improved. Now the players understand me better, we will focus.” to attack more and, hopefully, we will give a positive result”.
Odisha FC comes into the game with a positive result and is keen to pick up a win against NorthEast United FC to secure their place in the top six. This is what the NEUFC coach had to say about their opponents:
“It is a very good team and has good players. I think Diego Mauricio is the best striker in the league along with Jorge Díaz. I feel that Mauricio is better, he always attacks the spaces and can create and score, which is dangerous. Feature. He is Brazilian, aggressive and a clinical finisher. He is a dangerous player. In general, Odisha FC plays good football and we have to play better to achieve a positive result tomorrow.”
It’s the last home game for NorthEast United FC in what has been a season to forget. Before NEUFC takes the field tomorrow, is there any message that Vincenzo would like to give to his players? This is what he had to say:
“(Laughter) Well, I would say go kill them on the pitch. Don’t get me wrong, but it’s a must-win game for us and we must win it. It will be difficult, but if my players do what they can, it will be possible to achieve our objetive”.
‘There are no easy games in the ISL’: Odisha FC manager Josep Gombau before the clash against NorthEast United FC
Odisha FC have their faith in their own hands and if they manage to win tomorrow, they will secure their place in the top six.
Speaking of their match tomorrow, this is what Odisha FC manager Josep Gombau had to say:
“From what I feel, it’s going to be a very difficult game for us. We’re playing against a team that has made a lot of progress in recent weeks.”
The Kalinga Warriors had a good start to the season, but a mid-season slump saw them drop out of the top six positions. When we asked him what the coach felt went wrong during that period, this is what he said:
“It’s true that we got off to a good start and then we lost a few games. I don’t think we did much wrong during those games. We played a lot of home games during the opening rounds of the league and then we started playing.” away games we lost games. Our form at home has been very good, but our form away from home has not been very good, that’s why we are where we are.”
Odisha FC has two games left and both games are against the teams in 11th and 10th places. It seems that they have easier matches compared to the other teams competing for the top six places, but Gombau has a different point of view.
“In ISL, there are no easy games. If we look closely, there are 3-4 teams within a three point gap and it just shows how competitive the ISL is. So to think that we have an easy game is not correct.”
Odisha FC will be looking to secure a win tomorrow against NorthEast United FC and confirm their place in the playoffs. On the other hand, NEUFC will be looking to secure a win in their last home game of the season.