ISL: NEUFC looks for turnaround under Grant

North East United will look for valuable tips from its new advisor, former Chelsea manager Avram Grant, as it prepares to face the might of FC Goa in an Indian Super League fixture here at the Indira Gandhi Stadium on Saturday.

Losing its last four matches on the trot, NEUFC is lying in the ninth spot with just four points gained from a win and a draw previously.

The visiting GC Goa will be eager to exploit the apparent disquiet in the opposition ranks to regain the momentum which it seems to have lost in the last two outings; it drew one and lost one in its last two games.

For the home side the arrival of Grant – the man who took the Premier League giant to the final of the UEFA Champions League in 2008 – is the only bright aspect in the gloom of repeated failures. Grant has taken over the side barely a couple of days ago but the host is already looking for a turnaround. “The mood (in the team) has changed with arrival of the new (technical) advisor. The boys look more cheerful and are gearing up for the match,” NEUFC’s goalkeeping coach Joseph Siddy said in the pre-match media interaction.

NEUFC has three successive home matches starting with its meeting against Goa, which should favour the side. “His (Avram’s) experience and coaching style will motivate us and will give us the confidence to do well in future matches,” Siddy added.

“All the teams are well balanced. They are equal and it’s the small details which make the difference in each game,” said FC Goa coach Sergio Lobera, while reminding his side no to take the opposition lightly.