GUWAHATI, Jan 18 - NorthEast United FC will not be short on motivation as they host table-toppers Chennaiyin FC in a bid to rescue their campaign in the Hero Indian Super League battle at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati, on Friday.
NorthEast United FC have just seven points from their nine first leg matches and need to start a string of wins in the second half of their campaign to entertain any hopes of making it to the semifinal play-offs. New coach Avram Grant, formerly with Chelsea FC, has tried to inspire the team but with their defeat in the last match against ATK at home suggests, it�s not been easy. All is still not lost for NorthEast United and assistant coach Eelco Schattorie can see that his team is still up for a fight.
�The overall atmosphere is fine. Players have the intention to do their job. They are motivated to do something together. Regarding the team gelling or getting tactics implemented, that always takes time, specially offensively. Defensively we don�t have too many problems,� Schattorie said during the pre-match media interaction. NorthEast United will battle for points against the table-toppers and Schattorie felt the coaching staff will not have to do much on the motivation bit.
�We play the number one team and normally as a coach you don�t have to motivate anyone if you play the number one in the league,� he said. NorthEast United meantime has signed Helio Pinto as their additional (eight) international player and the former Benfica midfielder could have a role to play.
