NEUFC Coach Nus Calls For Calm After 6-Match Winless Run in ISL

GUWAHATI: NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) head coach Gerard Nus has called for calm after his side’s winless run was extended to six games in the ongoing Indian Super League at Goa.

“We have a mature group of players. The players and coaching staff need to learn from the mistakes and situations. This is a test of our character. In these moments, we have to keep calm, to analyze and to get good rest and recovery and think about the next game,” he said after the 2-4 loss in the hands of Hyderabad FC at Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco last night.

“That’s something that will always be there but it’s not enough. In many games we deserved more, against Chennaiyin FC we deserved to win, against Odisha FC we created so many chances … but we didn’t score and obviously we didn’t defend well enough because they punished us as well,” Nus added.

It was NEUFC’s second straight defeat in the league after a 0-2 loss against ATK Mohun Bagan on January 3.

Conceding two early goals to Hyderabad’s Aridane Santana (3’) and Joel Chianese (36’), the Highlanders fought back to restore the parity through first half dying minutes goals by Federico Gallego (penalty conversion) and Benjamin Lambot. However, a late brace by super-sub Liston Colaco stole the full points away for the Hyderabad outfit.

In the post-match interaction, Hyderabad’s head coach Manuel Marquez admitted that he was angry with his players after they had squandered their two-goal advantage by halftime. “I was very angry because we controlled the game, but we conceded two goals … in five minutes (towards the end of the half) we lost control. I told my players that now we have our game as a draw and we will have to play like how we played in the beginning. The players were brave in the second half and I think we deserved the victory,” he said.

“I love Liston. He is a fantastic guy and he will be a fantastic player but he wasn’t ready for 90 minutes today because he had two-three injuries. But like today, when he enters the pitch and the other team is tired, he can take advantage of his qualities,” Marquez said.