In an interview with the sports reporter of Tasnim news agency, Shahin Bayani said about the 1-1 draw of Esteghlal football team against Zob Ahan of Isfahan in the eleventh week of the Premier Football League, nothing special happened in the first half and the two teams worked more physically. The game improved in the second half and Esteghlal could get three points. However, considering the conditions of Esteghlal, a draw in Isfahan was not a bad result. Let’s not forget that the problems of independence still exist. Esteghlal has done a great job with these people and the problems they have had so far.
He further added: If Esteghlal wants to win the championship, it must get players. Mohammad Hossein Muradmand is out for several months due to injury and Roozbe Cheshmi inevitably plays in the heart of the defense line. In the national team and Esteghlal, it was proven that there is no place for eyes in the heart of the defense line. Javad Nekonam also knows this issue and has to use Cheshmi instead of Muradmand. The management of the club must get a new player in the defense line anyway. If this happens and one or two players are recruited, Esteghlal will have a lot to say with these people.
The veteran of Esteghlal Club emphasized that the blue-coats have done a great job with management problems so far this season and noted: Persepolis had so many players before the season that Georgi Golsiani was on the bench and with another defender’s injury, he returned to the team’s starting line-up. This Georgian defender played a big role in the championship of Persepolis last season. Definitely, if Esteghlal gets a player of Gulsiani’s level, I will write that he will win the championship at the end of the season.
Bayani continued: The club management should not hide behind the team’s results and think about strengthening independence in the transfers of the second half of the season. At the beginning of the season, I didn’t think Esteghlal would be at the top of the table, and now that Nekonam’s students have reached this point, the club management should think about some positions. We saw the match of the national team against Uzbekistan and what good defenders the opposing team had. Uzbek players have much lower prices than Iranian footballers. Last season, Esteghlal had the best offensive line in the league, which lost its two key players. Nekonam is smart and professional and he knows what positions his team wants players in. Imagine if one or two of Armin Sohrabian and Iman Salimi get injured, then what will happen to Esteghlal’s defense line?
Regarding Nekonam’s conflict with one of the videographers of the game with Zob Ahan, he said: This is because of the pressure on Nekonam. These things happen in football and on Saturday I saw that Pep Guardiola and Liverpool’s striker got into a fight in the game between Manchester City and Liverpool. However, the sidelines of football are not these issues. I was watching the game between Aluminum and Pikan, but the assistant referee didn’t get 100% goals. Three points are easily taken from a team. These are the big problems of Iranian football.
At the end, the veteran of the Esteghlal football team stated: The championship of the league depends on the results of three or four contending teams, and any team that is smart and scores points will be the champion, and I hope the cup will be for Esteghlal.