Bengaluru FC’s hopes for a top-four finish have started to slowly fade away after registering back to back losses in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL).

On Friday, NorthEast United FC bounced back to claim a victory to end their winless run of 10 matches with a goal each from Deshorn Brown and Laldanmawia Ralte.

Match Report: NorthEast United FC dent Bengaluru FC’s semi-final hopes with a comeback win

Marco Pezzaiuoli addressed the media after the game. Here are some excerpts from his press conference:

How tough is it to get a result like this at this stage of the tournament?

It doesn’t matter when you lose at what stage of the tournament. When you’re losing a game you’re not happy. Obviously, in the locker room, the boys are very disappointed. Especially, when you are a goal in front against NorthEast United FC and then you need to have better ball possession and finish the chances that you have and score the second and third goal, then the game is almost done but we didn’t score and kept the opponent alive. You never avoid the chances you get and you happen to open more and concede a second goal.

Were you conscious of a possibility of such an upset being caused?

With three games left, we want to be in the top four. It is more difficult now. We know we need a minimum of nine points with three games left. It is clear now and we must try to get the positives of the game out. In the first half, we played the ball back from the centre midfield and I was not happy about that as well as the defending. The second half performance was good, we created a lot of chances, we needed to score another goal.

You had more possession and the result didn’t go your way, what are your thoughts on the performance?

The ball possession was good today but in the first half we played the ball too many times backwards and we discussed that to find a solution. In the second half, we played more forwards and created more chances. We needed to only score some goals and avoid crosses from opponents. In football, it is clear you have to score on the chances.

You had a lot of players unavailable today, do you think that caused a problem?

Not at all. I think Yaya (Banana) played a very good game as well. Parag Shrivas is tired too after a lot of quarantine time and Covid-19, he made some mistakes but I think I don’t look to the other player because I have a good squad and the players are good enough to win me the games.

When could we see the likes of Jayesh Rane and King back?

This season both will not play anymore, they are injured and out of the season.