ISL 2017/18: FC Pune City lucky to scrape past Northeast United FC, says assistant coach Vladica Gujic 

FC Pune City got the better of Northeast United FC 1-0 in the ISL through a Marcelinho goal in what was a cagey affair of sorts. Northeast United, on their part, played much better football compared to their counterparts and FC Pune city’s assistant coach Vladica Gujic admitted that he was lucky to come away with three points.

He went on to say, “We knew it was going to be a very difficult game for us, and Northeast United created some very good chances, but in the end I would say we were lucky to get all three points from the game as it was a very important game for us as we have only 4 more games left and need to get as many points as possible”.

Gujic did praise his players for playing a very well mannered game and he seemed really happy with the discipline that they showcased in the field.

“We have around three away games left, so as we showed today, that we can absorb pressure and perform, I feel we will be able to do well those games as well and be in a comfortable situation,” said Gujic.

Northeast United’s coach Avram Grant too felt that FC Pune city was very lucky to have won the tie, as Northeast United played the better brand of football.

“The negative side of today’s game was that we lost and that from a situation where we gifted them the ball and not through some good move that Pune created. In fact, Pune couldn’t create much opportunities. As for the positives, well everyone saw the way we played and how we tried to keep possession of the ball and create chances, which, well, we failed to convert,” said Grant on the positives and negatives from the game today.

Speaking about the moral of the side after such a defeat he said, “It's not easy to accept a defeat of this magnitude as we played such a good game and yet lost due to one mistake we made. It's not easy for me and also for the players, but well we need to look ahead and keep getting better and think about the next game now.”

Emiliano Alfaro spoke exclusively to Sportskeeda after the game and stated that he felt really good to be back in Guwahati as he has some very fond memories of the place. Speaking about the ISL, in general, he said not much has changed since the last time around except the fact that the league is longer in duration with the addition two new teams.

As for his side, Alfaro mentioned that they were in a good position but it is the last 3-4 games that could decide the course of the league.

“NorthEast have a good side this year, but sometimes in football, only having a good side doesn’t work for you... They have been unlucky this season... I have seen a lot of their games on tv and I feel they have been very unlucky this season. They create chances but fail to score. Today, also they had 2-3 chances but failed to utilise the situation”, said Emiliano Alfaro had to say about his former side NorthEast United FC.