Having to play their first three games at home might seem like an advantage for NorthEast United FC before eight-franchise Indian Super League (ISL) began. However, thanks to ISL's cramped schedule that saw NorthEast play three games in a week, the franchise managed just four points from a possible nine.

"It's been really tough to have played three games in seven days in Guwahati. If we had an additional day to rest before every game, we would have earned more than four points.