Guwahati: NorthEast United FC have been handed a tough start to season with the opening game against defending champions Bengaluru FC.
It is the same team who vanquished them in the play-offs, at a time when many believed they had done enough and could go far.
Coach Robert Jarni, however, is confident of a winning start at the Sree Kanteerava stadium in Bengaluru on Monday.
“Bengaluru FC have made some changes from last season. Also, we have a different coach and some new players.
This will be a different game. We believe that we can do something good against them.
We are confident and we will try to bring the three points,” the former Real Madrid wing-back said.
The former Croatian international who took over from Eelco Schattorie also felt his side might have a slight advantage since most of Bengaluru’s key Indian players (Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Udanta Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan and Rahul Bheke) were away with the Indian national team for a while and might not have had a chance to tune into Carles Cuadrat’s team’s preparations.
“Yes, it will be a little advantage for us. As a coach, you want to have the full squad for training.
But they could not have that because of the international break. But they have good players who know the coach and they are playing together from last season.It might help a little, but it is definitely not going to make a big difference,” Jarni said. (UNI)
