While things looked good for Rajasthan United in the early stages of the season, they have been one of the league’s worst performers after the winter break. The Desert Warriors have picked up just one win in the last seven games, and have lost the last five in a row. They have now stumbled down to tenth position, just four points above the relegation zone.

“It is a difficult time. This is a period every team faces,”said Rajasthan United head coach Pushpender Kundu at the pre-match press conference.

“It is not that we are not playing well. We dominate games but sometimes lose focus, concede silly goals and suffer narrow defeats,” he added.

During their pre-season, Rajasthan United won the Baji Rout Cup and had a successful outing in the Durand Cup, reaching the knockouts. Kundu feels those tournaments are a precedent of his team’s quality. “I always try to remind my players of what we have achieved in the past, in the Durand Cup, in the Baji Rout Cup. It is time for us all to come together and take this challenge, motivate each other.

“We lose together and win together,” said an inspired Kundu.