Hyderabad FC failed to make it back-to-back home wins after finishing on the wrong side of a 1-0 result against NorthEast United FC at the G.M.C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium on Wednesday. Both sides cancelled each other out for large parts of the fixture, with the Highlanders only winning the three points after an 86th minute Maximiliano Barreiro penalty.

After the tie, indiansuperleague.com caught up with Hyderabad’s Abhishek Halder for an exclusive post-match interview. Here are the excerpts:

The performance was going well but last minute you conceded a penalty. What are your thoughts on the match?

We tried to give our 100 per cent. We tried our best to win but in the last minute we conceded a penalty. We couldn’t do anything.

Hyderabad showed good chemistry today. So, how do you think the future will be with regards to performances?

We started our pre-season late, so we didn’t get that much time. We are now practising together. The coach is also instructing us on how to do things. He is talking to us. We are improving and going forward, we will improve further.

You got an opportunity to play for the team. Is there pressure?

No, there isn’t any pressure. Firstly, I’ll like to thank god. The coaches believed in me and senior players encouraged me. They told me to play well. They urge me to keep improving and to be better in the future.

What is your opinion about your own performance?

The team should have won, and that would have been better.

What would you like to say to the fans who came in large numbers to support you?

Hyderabad fans are very nice. A lot of them came in the first match and today as well. They will hopefully support us in the coming matches as well. We have to do well, and I would like to thank them.

Read the Match report here.