NorthEast United FC assistant coach Naushad Moosa shared his delight as they marched to the Indian Super League (ISL) playoffs following a resounding victory against Chennaiyin FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Monday.

The Highlanders showcased a dominating first-half performance as they scored three goals within 38 minutes to seal their spot in the top six for the first time in four seasons. Nestor Albiach opened the scoring for the visitors with his long-range strike outside the box, while a beautiful passage of play saw Jithin MS double the lead and Alaaeddine Ajaraie scored the third.

Despite Owen Coyle’s men having their chances in the second half, Gurmeet Singh has been absolutely at his best to deny the hosts from finding the back of the net as he recorded his seventh clean sheet in the 2024-25 season.

Moreover, with this win, NorthEast United FC are now unbeaten in each of their last six away games in the ongoing ISL season (W4 D2), their outright longest such run in league history.

Moosa voiced his pleasure with the way his team played, especially in the first half, where the Highlanders outplayed the hosts with their dominating performance. The assistant coach believed that his players perfectly executed their gameplans, resulting in a clinical victory away from home.

“I am very happy with the way the boys played. We stuck to our plan and the way we wanted to play, and we did exactly that,” he said in the post-match press conference.

“We got the openings that we were looking for in the first half and scored,” he further added.

Alaaeddine Ajaraie found himself on the scoresheet to record his 21st goal of the ongoing ISL season, helping NorthEast United FC secure a playoff berth. With his goal and two assists, the Moroccan sensation has recorded 3+ goal contributions in a single game for the third time in the ongoing ISL season.

Moosa was in full praise of the Highlanders’ talisman, highlighting how the forward has been helping the team with his all-round abilities on and off the pitch and leading the squad with his leadership skills and winning mentality.

“To speak about Ajaraie, it's not only in the game. He gives the same intensity in training, which you can see in the game. He is a team man. He is a very humble guy,” he remarked.

“Our senior players like Captain Míchel Zabaco, and then Ajaraie and Mohammed Ali Bemammer; they have been supporting the young players a lot, and you can see the result in the match,” Moosa continued.

Moosa highlighted their collective efforts from the coaching staff to the management as the sole reason behind their success this season. The Highlanders, who clinched their first title in the form of the Durand Cup earlier this season, are qualified for the ISL playoffs with one game to spare after missing out on the opportunity last year by the narrowest margin of a point.

The NorthEast United FC assistant coach acknowledged that their route to success isn’t an overnight transformation but rather a strategical approach that encompasses the development of the team both on and off the field. Speaking in context, Moosa remarked,

“We joined (the team) last season. We want to bring a system in place. It's very important. You don't get results overnight. It's a process, and we need to believe in the process.”

“Me working with Mandar (Tamhane), we have been working together. It's been eight years now that we are working together, and the way we want to bring a system in the game and again get a coach like Juan Pedro Benali, who really helps me a lot when I am talking about development from the youth system, from the reserve squad, is very important. He understands me, understands the players, and gives them those opportunities,” he signed off.

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Alaaeddine AjaraieNorthEast United FCChennaiyin FC2024-2025