NorthEast United FC will be looking to end their eight-match winless run in the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2019-20 when they face Mumbai City FC at the Mumbai Football Arena on Friday. The Highlanders are currently ninth in the table with just 11 points from 12 matches and need to start picking up points quickly to keep themselves relevant in the top four race.

Ahead of the match, NorthEast head coach Robert Jarni, in an exclusive pre-match interview, addressed the team’s poor run of results and said, "There's not much to say. It's all about working hard to correct our mistakes during the training sessions. We have played really good matches this season but we haven't been able to score. That has been the problem for us - scoring."

With striker Asamoah Gyan’s injury, new signing Andrew Keogh has been brought in to spearhead the misfiring Highlanders attack. Asked if he thinks that the Irishman can help solve the team’s scoring woes, the Croat remarked, "It's not only about Keogh. It's about the team. The team needs to step up and help score the goals. It's not only just him who will be in front of the goal. The entire team needs to contribute. We are working on that every session. It's just a matter of time and goals will come."

Speaking about his team’s top four chances, Jarni opined, "We need to win all the remaining games to give ourselves a chance. It'll be difficult but I believe in my players. We are working hard, and this is a very young team. It's only a matter of time till the progress starts showing. We will do everything we can to get the three points from the next match."

Assessing Friday’s opponents Mumbai, Jarni opined, "They are a very good team. We respect them very much. In every match, we go for the victory and it will be the same mentality on Friday.”

Illustrating his experience so far in the Hero ISL, the World Cup bronze medallist said, "It's been an amazing experience for me here. I have learnt a lot and it's been fantastic. Especially working with the Indian players has been brilliant. They work so hard and it's been a joy to see how they are progressing day by day."

"I have been speaking a lot of these youngsters and I have told them that only by working hard in training sessions and thinking about football all the time, will they keep moving forward. I share their football dreams. I have told them to never give up on their dreams," he added.