ISL 2019 | I don’t speak anything to players about qualifying, reveals Eelco Schattorie

02/20/2019

NorthEast United FC head coach Eelco Schattorie had said that he never discusses qualifying for the playoffs with his players. He also added that despite injuries, he always expects his players to go into the game wanting to win and also emphasized on the importance of organization every game.

Eelco Schattorie had said that he always looked to take one game at a time and preferred not to mention anything about qualifying for the playoffs with the players but that the team looks to win every game and wants to be obsessed with the winning habit. NorthEast United are the only team, belonging to the original group of teams, that has not made it to the playoffs even once.

“I didn’t mention anything to the players about qualifying. I really take it game by game. Last week in Mumbai it was a similar situation. We won 2-0. It was one of the first times where Mumbai had over 50% ball possession. Against us, that normally doesn’t happen. We just want to win and that's it," he said.

Schattorie expressed the injury concerns in the team and deemed about 6 players unfit to take the field. But he was confident that although there were such concerns, he would expect the players featuring in every game to have the intent to perform and win the game.

"We have almost six injuries in the team. TP Rehenesh is injured. Provat Lakra, Robert Lalthlamuana are not 100% fit. Shouvik Ghosh was sick. There are two of them who are fifty-fifty. Defender Pawan Kumar is also injured. So, I’m not sitting here with the full conviction that everything is fine. But I’m confident that we are going to go into the game as 11 players wanting to win the game," he told in a pre-match press conference, reported the ISL Media.

The Dutch manager had also shared the secret of success for NorthEast United FC, which is one match away from sealing a playoff spot for the first time in the history of the club, this season. He indicated that 50% of any game is the organization and it is important to adapt to the style of play on a tactical note.

"I have a very simple assessment of them. Many people forget that Pune are the only team in the league that plays 5-3-2. Almost all teams play 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. You get used to playing a style and suddenly have to play a different style and that for many teams is difficult on a tactical level. It does not mean that it’s the only reason. But I think that it plays a big role. 50% of any game is organization. But I think we are ready for that," he added.

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