Chennaiyin FC will be looking for back-to-back victories when they take on NorthEast United FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Thursday. After drawing their opening match of the season 2-2 against Atlético de Kolkata and then losing 3-1 to Delhi Dynamos FC at home, Marco Materazzi’s men got their first win of Hero ISL 2016 against FC Goa (2-0) last time around.While it may not have been the start to the season Materazzi had envisioned, he didn’t sound to bothered about the Super Machans being slow out of the blocks again, citing a similar beginning during their title winning campaign last year. “Start is the same as last season but yes we do regret dropping the two points at Kolkata. If you see as to how the game was developing, we should have got all three points, and during the Delhi match I was very angry as the team did not play as well as they could have.” Materazzi told reporters at the pre-match press conference.The 43-year-old Italian expects a tough match on Thursday and admitted that the defending champions must have utmost respect for the table-toppers. “We always have maximum respect for the team that is at the top of the table. They changed many players. The coach has done a very good job and it is a very well organised team and they deserve the 10 points they have. We know it is going to be tough but if we play well then we can win.” he said.The FIFA World Cup winning Italian also batted away any suggestions that the scheduling, which has seen NorthEast play five games as opposed to Chennai’s three, stands the hosts in better stead due to superior match rhythm. “They have played five games already and we have played three so this will be the sixth game for them and the fourth for us. This is the schedule and so it’s nobody’s fault. We have to respect the schedule…all the coaches know what they are up to before coming here,” said Materazzi.He continued: “Now we have had many days’ gap between one game and another but this is going to change because the next games are going to be all tied together. This is the schedule, we all have to respect it. We are fine with it. So, we don’t blame the schedule and we are fine with it.”When asked if Chennai were missing the services of an in-form domestic striker in their ranks, something they’ve had in both the previous season with Jeje Lalpekhlua spearheading their attack, Materazzi said: “Usually Jeje has a key role in our team. He is ready and I strongly believe in him and he’s done really well in the national team as well. I pick the players regardless of their nationality and age. Last game Jerry (Lalrinzuala) was put in and he is only 18 years old and we finished the game with seven Indians. So, I have great faith in Jeje but I want all the best players to play regardless of nationality and age. I put out the best 11.”
