Guwahati: Already out of the contention for play-offs, both NorthEast United and Delhi Dynamos will battle to salvage pride when they face-off at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium here on Wednesday.
NorthEast are winless in the last four fixtures, while Delhi have last beaten Bengaluru three matches ago. But their performance against the top teams has been out of expectations.
While the ‘Highlanders’ have beaten both Goa and Chennaiyin Delhi have overcome Bengaluru and held Chennaiyin to two draws this term. The two are separated by three points, but NorthEast having played a match more are a rung above with 11 points from 14 games.
Delhi are placed last with eight points after 13 matches. Both the teams have managed to show the potential they carry but have not been consistent enough resulting in their oust from the league semi-finals.
“The players are however positive,” said NorthEast assistant coach Eelco Schatorrie ahead of the games against Delhi. “Everybody will give their best, there is no doubt about that. Of course, when you are not fighting for anything then the motivation level tends to dip a bit, but as a group everybody is here to learn and we are learning with every games,” he added.
The visitors on the other have already made up their mind to prevent the last position anyhow. “Our motivation now is to avoid the last position in the league,” said Delhi coach Miguel Angel Portugal. “NorthEast United are also in a similar position. We would want a win in this one,”
A win here will take the Dynamos equal on points with NorthEast but they will still be last because of their worst goal difference, a staggering -16.
They will also miss a host of players for the tie Portugal informed. “Nanda, Edu Moya, Albino, Romeo, Lumu didn’t have time to recover from the last game. That’s doesn’t matter. We’ll try to play our best and win the game,” the Spaniard signed off.