NEUFC, DELHI IN BATTLE OF WOODEN SPOONERS

Guwahati, Feb. 13: Out of reckoning for the playoffs, NorthEast United FC and Delhi Dynamos will be desperate to avoid a last- place finish in the 10- team Indian Super League.

Wednesday’s match at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium here may be merely of academic interest but both sides would still look to salvage pride.

NorthEast are ninth with 11 points from 14 matches, just above Delhi ( eight from 13 outings).

NorthEast assistant coach Eelco Schatorrie said that “qualification or not”, the squad’s mood was still positive and they would give their all to win.

“The players are very positive, and 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 said on Tuesday.

NorthEast United brought in the experienced Avram Grant as the head coach to lead the team in January after a poor start under Joao de Deus Pires. But his introduction couldn’t arrest NorthEast’s downward slide.

Delhi also saw their campaign nosedive with every outing.

They held fourthplaced Chennaiyin FC 11 in their last game but coach Miguel Angel Portugal knows it is too little too late.

“Our motivation now is to avoid the last position in the league. NorthEast United are also in a similar position. We would want a win in this one,” he said at the pre- match press conference.