ISL 2020-21 | We have one last hurdle: NorthEast United’s Khalid Jamil on playoff chances

NorthEast United FC climbed up to the fourth spot in the ISL table as they won 2-1 against SC East Bengal on Tuesday. East Bengal fought hard with a 10-man team but couldn’t manage to equalize in the end. The win took the Highlanders to 30 points from their 19 matches.

They are now tied on points with FC Goa who are placed at the third spot and two points ahead of Hyderabad FC, who are placed at the fifth place. All the Highlanders need now is just a point from their final League match against Kerala Blasters to secure a berth in the playoffs.

NorthEast United head coach Khalid Jamil seemed pretty pleased with the performance of his players in this match, which he termed as ‘pretty difficult’.

“It was a very difficult game. In this situation, the opponent will always play a hard game,” he said.

“We are thinking about our points and the next game and that is the most important thing for us,” Jamil said on being asked about the team’s standing in the league table.

Midfielder Federico Gallego has been at the forefront of their success once again. He has scored four goals and assisted six times in this season. Luis Machado and Deshorn Brown have been prolific in terms of scoring as well, with the former netting seven goals and the latter netting five.

Jamil also mentioned that he trusts his players completely to finish the job at the end of the league stage. He expects them to keep performing in the same way as they have been since he took over the charges from Gerard Nus.

“I am not disappointed at all (with the goals conceded). The players are working very hard, everybody is working hard and I am very happy to get the three points,” Jamil said.

“I am not nervous but there was pressure. But I believe in my boys. We have one last hurdle. We must work hard to get a positive result.”