NorthEast United FC manager Ricki Herbert has been a busy man. And why not, his side will have played three home games in a matter of seven days! The Highlanders are doing not too badly, with a win and a loss so far. Herbert, along with Aiborlang Khonjgee, addressed the media who have taken keen interest in the young team from the northeast, as have neutral fans all over India.The team is currently fourth owing to inferior goal difference, and needs a win to stay in the top half of the table. Herbert trusts his bunch of young lads to be up to the task, and believes his playing style to be the means to achieve it. “For us, it’s about building the confidence and ability of these players to express themselves and move forward. There are young players that I want to encourage, like Zoding (Zodingliana) and Milan (Singh).”When posed a question on being caught on the counter for Atlético de Kolkata’s second goal, he replied, “I want them (the players) to be very aggressive with what they do. At times, it may give us a little bit of a concern, but I would rather see that in attack, in 14 games, than be a side that sits back and then hopefully get a goal on the break. It may work against us, but it’s my responsibility. And I would rather see that.”Defender Aiborlang Khongjee is also very delighted to work with the New Zealander, adding, “I have no doubt that Ricki (Herbert) is a very good coach. I have worked with a lot of coaches while playing in India, and he’s been the best coach so far”.Herbert will be boosted by the return of key players to training to bolster the defence. When asked about Miguel Garcia and Robin Gurung, he was positive, albeit cautious, saying, “They trained today. We’ll see how they recover by tomorrow, but I’m hoping they’ll be okay.”NorthEast United missed their captain, Garcia, as the physical nature of Kolkata’s game got the better of their defence, and will hope he can lead from the back when FC Goa visit the Indira Gandhi Athletic stadium in Guwahati.Herbert’s focus going into the next match – facing players like Robert Pires and a coach of the stature of Brazilian legend Zico – is fairly simple. “A lot of the sides have got very good players. I think it’s important that we get a little more focus on what we are doing, and then maybe some attention on the players that we are yet to play. I’m concentrating on us. All the sides are going to present a tough challenge. I am the same and I can appreciate that. Sometimes you are going to have one or two players who are maybe going to be a little more exceptional. But for me, it’s extracting as much as I can out of this very young team, and Sunday’s not going to be an exception."FC Goa will be looking for their first win in the Hero Indian Super League when they face NorthEast United FC in Guwahati on Sunday, 19 October.
