The Highlanders travel to Kolkata for the clash against the Mariners
Guwahati, 22 September 2024: NorthEast United FC will return to the venue of their Durand Cup triumph for the first time when they face Mohun Bagan SG in their Indian Super League (ISL 2024-25) match at the VYBK, Kolkata on Monday.
It will be a rematch of the Durand Cup final between the NorthEast United FC and Mohun Bagan SG, where the Highlanders prevailed 4-3 on penalties to clinch the first silverware in the club’s history, putting the clash against ISL shield winners firmly in the spotlight.
The Highlanders opened their ISL 2024-25 campaign with a 1-0 win away to another Kolkata club Mohammedan SC, while Mohun Bagan SG played out a 2-2 draw against Mumbai City FC in the ISL opener.
One of the team’s youngsters – Thoi Singh – expressed that the team is upbeat before facing Mohun Bagan SG. “The entire team is motivated to play against Mohun Bagan. The Durand Cup has certainly given us an added motivation. On the field it’s 11 vs 11, so we are looking forward to the game,” Thoi, 20, said.
NorthEast United FC head coach Juan Pedro Benali felt that playing against Mohun Bagan at Salt Lake Stadium is good enough motivation for the squad. “Playing against Mohun Bagan, you don’t need more motivation. We are going to play against Mohun Bagan in their field again. We know they will be waiting for us. That is a big enough motivation for us,” he said.
The gaffer further stressed that the Durand Cup final is in the past and focuses only on the upcoming fixture. “The Durand Cup is past, and so is the game against Mohammedan SC. You are only as good as your last game. Football is strange at times. In some games, you will play very well but you’ll end up losing the game and nobody will remember that you played well. Some games you will play badly but you will win and everybody will remember the result,” Benali added.
