The Highlanders have won their first-ever senior trophy this season by winning the Durand Cup and will go into the ISL season with high hopes.
With the ISL season looming in the corner, NorthEast United FC the John Abraham-owned franchise from Northeast, will go into the season with high hopes. The Highlanders have won their first-ever trophy as they lifted the 133rd edition of the Durand Cup on 31st August in Kolkata, defeating last season’s champions Mohun Bagan Super Giants.
NorthEast United FC hopes to replicate its Durand Cup performance in the ISL 2024-25 season.
Previous Season
The Highlanders finished seventh in the ISL 2023-24 season and missed a playoff spot by just one point. NorthEast United FC gave a good account of themselves last season as they also reached the semi-finals for the Durand Cup in 2023. Last season the Highlanders won six games and drew eight games while losing eight games.
This season, Juan Pedro Benali will hope that his side can convert the draws into wins which will help boost their chances of reaching the playoffs.
Manager’s Profile
Juan Pedro Benali has been a God-sent angel for the Highlanders as he has managed to renew hopes in a fan base that has been suffering for the past ten seasons. The tag of perennial underachiever that has been haunting the Highlanders for the past few years has finally been washed away by Benali this season, as he guided NorthEast United FC to their first-ever trophy.
As a manager Juan Pedro Benali is someone who is well-known in Spain and Northern Africa along with Morroco and the Middle East. He has vast experience in coaching in various top divisions across the world for the past 27 years.
He was a part of Atletico Madrid as the Technical Assistant to Claudio Ranieri. He also has experience of working with teams like Vissel Kobe and the Finland National Team but as an assistant to Stuart Baxter. Benali has won the UAE Football League Cup with Sharjah FC.
The best thing about Benali in NorthEast United FC has been his approach to the league with the limited resources at his helm. Last season he kept emphasizing on the word “Sabr” (meaning patience or persistence) and the the need for the club and its supporters to embrace it. Before the Durand Cup Benali mentioned this season being all about winning and well he did manage to do that in the Durand Cup.
How he handles this young bunch of players in the upcoming ISL season will define a lot about him and also NorthEast United FC.
Summer Signings
NorthEast United FC is one of the teams that have retained most of their core squad from last season and were on the lookout to make some minority additions to the team in terms of domestic signings while they were also looking to add quality foreign strikers upfront.
The biggest addition to the squad this season has been Spanish striker Guillermo Fernandez. The Athletic Bilbao academy product has ample experience in Spain and has represented teams like Athletic Bilbao, Leganes, Elche and Racing Santander. Guillermo has already shown the Indian football circuit how lethal he can be, having finished the Durand Cup as the second-highest goal scorer by scoring five goals. His introduction in the finals of the Durand Cup changed the game on its head and he will play a crucial role for the Highlanders this season.
NorthEast United FC added the third Moroccan player to their squad during the summer transfer window as they signed Alaeddine Ajaraie. Ajaraie is someone who was again handpicked by Juan Pedro Benali and will fit into the team properly as he will have his countrymen Hamza Regragui and Mohammed Ali Bemammer for company. Ajaraie gave a good account of himself in the Durand Cup and scored three goals in the tournament including getting his name on the scoresheet in the semi-finals and finals. His work rate was also impressive.
A good domestic addition for the Highlanders has been Muthu Mayakkannan. Mayakkannan has been one of the highly-rated players in the I-League in recent years and his performance for Sreenidi Deccan grabbed eyeballs from a lot of clubs.
The addition of young striker Ankith Padmanabhan from Bengaluru FC reserves could be a good signing by NorthEast United FC.
Youth Talents
NorthEast United FC are predominantly a side that is based on youth talent. They have the likes of Parthib Gogoi in their ranks, who is one of the most promising youngsters in the Indian football circuit.
They have signed a bunch of young players from Bengaluru reserves players who are well known to Naushad Moosa. The likes of Ankith Padmanabhan, Thoi Singh, Bekey Oram, Buanthanglun Samte and Macarton Nickson will have some important roles to play for the club in the upcoming season.
Tactical Approach
Under Juan Pedro Benali NorthEast United FC have sort of perfected a proper balanced approach to games. They utilize the time frames of games to perfection. They usually start strong in attack in the first few minutes and then settle into the game as the game flows. They are strongest at the start of the second half and as we have seen since last season, NorthEast United FC have been dangerous during the 46th to 60th minute mark. They make full use of the halftime break and then come out all guns blazing.
Benali also relies heavily on his wingers Jithin MS and Parthib Gogoi and their form will be a big factor for them this season. Another factor will be the way Bemammer and Nestor control midfield as Benali relies heavily on their presence in the middle of the park. The centre-back pairing of Asheer Akhtar and Zabaco have proved to be a difficult pair to break down. The team cohesion for NorthEast United FC has improved a lot under Juan Pedro Benali.
Pre-Season: Durand Cup
NorthEast United FC had one the best pre-seasons ever as they managed to win the Durand Cup. The win will give the side much much-needed boost and would also help the club get more support from the fans in the stands.
NorthEast United FC played Bodoland FC, BSF, and Odisha FC reserves in the group stage of the Durand Cup. They defeat the Indian Army in the quarter-final of the tournament. In the semi-finals, it was a North East derby of sorts, as the Highlanders faced Shillong Lajong in the Shillong. NorthEast United FC defeated Shillong Lajong in the semi-finals 3-0.
In the finals, NorthEast United FC scripted a famous comeback story to win the Durand Cup. They were down 2-0 at halftime against last season’s champions Mohun Bagan Super Giants but, came back strongly in the second half to win the game in penalties.
Challenges Ahead
The major challenge that will keep Benali worried is the lack of squad depth available to him. Most of his players are inexperienced and young. Also, the Highlanders lack proper depth in each position like some of the other teams have in the tournament.
A few injuries to crucial players could derail the season for the Highlanders. Also in a long league season having calm and composure is required for a club to do well, something which could be a problem for Benali’s side given the lack of experience in the squad.
Also, the lack of fans in the stadium (something that is expected to change this season) could prove to be fatal as the team often finds itself without the support and encouragement needed to guide it through tough times.
Early Predictions for the season
Given how they played last season and also in the Durand Cup and also given that most of the core group from last season is retained it would be good enough to predict that NorthEast United FC could reach their third playoffs. A top-four to six-table finish looks realistically possible for the Highlanders.
Best Possible Starting XI (4-2-3-1):
Gurmeet Singh; Dinesh Singh, Asheer Akhtar, Michel Zabaco, Buanthanglun Samte; Mayakkannan, Ali Bemammer, Nestor Albiach, Jithin MS, Parthib Gogoi; Guillermo Fernandez.
NorthEast United FC Squad
Goalkeepers: Gurmeet Singh, Mirshad Michu, Dipesh Chauhan
Defenders: Michel Zabaco, Dinesh Singh, Asheer Akhtar, Buanthanglun Samte, Tondonba Singh, Hamza Regragui, Robin Yadav
Midfielders: Mohammed Ali Bemammer, Mayakkannan, Macrton Nickson, Jithin MS, Huidrom Thoi Singh, Redeem Tlang, Bekey Oram, Phalguni Singh, Shighil Nambrath, Shajan Franklin
Forwards: Guillermo Fernandez, Parthib Gogoi, Nestor Albiach, Alaeddine Ajaraie, Ankith Padmanabhan, Freddy Chawngthansanga
Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Juan Pedro Benali
Assistant Coach: Naushad Moosa
Goalkeeping Coach: Manuel Diez Aznar
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Javier Caballero
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