Bambolim: Hyderabad FC will lock horns with NorthEast United FC in 2021-22 Hero Indian Super League (ISL) at the Athletic Stadium here on Monday.
Placed fifth in the points table, Hyderabad got back to winnings ways against southern rivals Bengaluru FC riding an early strike from Bartholomew Ogbeche. The Manolo Marquez-coached
the outfit has looked balanced so far and against a NorthEast side who were unlucky against Odisha FC in their previous tie, losing 0-1, they would fancy their chances.
The Nizams have looked like a well-oiled machine with the likes of Akash Mishra, Asish Rai, Hitesh Sharma and Nikhil Poojary playing really well. Rohit Danu has also given Marquez a dependable option upfront, adding options to manage Ogbeche’s workload with games coming thick and fast.
Ogbeche has scored in three successive games for Hyderabad. If he scores against NorthEast United, he will become the second player in Hyderabad history to score in four straight games.
Manolo Marquez said, “I don’t agree that NorthEast are not in the best run of form. They played a good game and did not deserve to lose against Odisha. Our game against them will be difficult.
Every team can beat each other in this league.”
“Three wins in a row for us is not enough. It is still early in the season. You can tell me that we have lost only one in the last 16 games in ISL. But NorthEast have quality. The experienced players need
to deliver,” he added.
NorthEast United, meanwhile, languish at ninth position with just four points to show for in five games. Hyderabad has seven points from four games. Khalid Jamil’s charges have blown hot and cold so far, winning just once and losing five times. The likes of Hernan Santana, Khalsa Camara and Deshorn Brown have been excellent but with Federico Gallego now out for the season with an injury,
the team has looked out of sorts at times and lacking in balance.
Santana has been a revelation for the Highlanders this season. The midfielder has played in a variety of defensive positions and has impressed each of them. He has won 2 Hero of the Match awards this season, no player has won as many.
“I am sure our players can bounce back. Our squad members are mentally very strong and we have proved that in past games. Defensively, we have to be very disciplined as Hyderabad won’t be an easy outfit to face,” assistant coach Alison Kharsyntiew said on the eve of the game.
