NorthEast United FC manager Ricki Herbert expressed satisfaction about his team’s performance after they had humbled Mumbai City FC 2-0 at the DY Patil Stadium here tonight but said that there was a lot more work to be done for the future. “It was tough for us in the first 45 minutes and Mumbai City are also a huge side who were playing at home. But at the end of the day we were probably the better side. There is still a lot of work to do though,” Herbert said at the post-match press conference. The former New Zealand manager at the 2010 FIFA World Cup said that his strategy to keep things tight at the back worked today as in the last two matches they had conceded goals early and they were pleased that it did not happen today. He also said that his decision to play Rehenesh TP, despite the Kerala goalkeeper having fumbled and conceded a goal in the previous match, was vindicated as Rehenesh kept a clean slate today. He explained that his policy is to back his players and give them confidence when he could have easily replaced him for his mistake as that is what the whole NorthEast United FC project is all about – helping Indian players to grow and become better players.He also predicted that Brazilian midfielder Guilherme Felipe de Castro, who replaced injured Zambian international Isaac Chansa early in the game, could become one of the best players in the Hero Indian Super League. “He was excellent in his debut for us against the Kerala Blasters. He’s a great boy and when he came on (today), he was brilliant,” he said.Asked if he was using a rotation policy because he is tweaking his team every now and then, Herbert replied “I don’t like the word rotation. I call it an investment in the 26 players I have.” He said it was his policy to give everyone a chance since he still does not know who is his best XI and no team will perhaps know with the combination of Indian and foreign players as to who will be their best combination till perhaps almost the end of the ISL.
