Hossein Charkhabi, in an interview with the sports reporter of Tasnim news agency, said about the conditions of Sepahan football team: Sepahan club attaches great importance to its football team. A discussion that can help this team a lot is preparing a team for success in the Asian Champions League. As it is clear from the recruitment of players, Sepahan plans to try for the championship in all three cups, but in Asia, you can see how fast the teams are recruiting the world’s great players.
He added: Last season, Morais came to Iran football as a strong coach, and in the next season, he has a more complete knowledge of Sepahan, Iranian football and rivals. The club recruits players based on Morais’ wishes and in line with his plan and strategy.
The Sepahan veteran stated: “Last season, many people complained about why only Mughanlou is in the team as a striker. He recruits his people based on the basic system of the formation of his people. My feeling is that with attention he will probably use 2-5-3 or 2-4-4 as the main system. Therefore, he has recruited 4 players, 3 of whom are only specialist strikers and cannot play in other positions. Issa Al-Kathir, Shahriar Moghanlou and Kaveh Rezaei are not effective in other positions except the point of attack, but Reza Shekhari can play in the positions of winger and attacking midfielder.
Charkhabi said: Reza Esadi also has the ability to play in the position of defensive midfielder and central defense in addition to the forward position. My guess is that according to the recruits, Morais will use him in the position of defensive midfielder and central defense.
In relation to the question why Esadi, who was in Mr. Goli’s competition last season and performed well as a striker, should agree to play in the position of defensive midfielder or central defender, he said: A professional footballer receives his contract amount and no one can. Make a condition that he must go to the field in a certain position. If anyone is going to impose his opinion and make a bet for the coach, no stone will be left on top of the other, and the order of the team will be disrupted.
Referring to the defensive weakness of this team, Sepahan veteran stated: There is a weak point in Sepahan. Like last season, Sepahan defenders are known and good; But I think this team has a problem in team defense. In today’s football, there is a difference between recruiting good defenders and doing a good team defense. People like Al Kathir, Mughanlou and Kaveh Rezaei may not be able to help Sepahan in team defense.
Regarding whether Sepahan has the possibility of winning the premier league due to the recruited players, Charkhabi said: Sepahan is planning to win the premier league championship. If Morais’ students do not win the Premier League, then Sepahan has gone to Qahghara. In the Asian Champions League, they should also try to get a dignified result, such as advancing to the semi-finals. For several seasons, Sepahan made mistakes in the elimination cup and did not pay attention to this cup. This year, the approach seems to be different.
He added: It should not be forgotten that this is the weakness of the Asian Football Confederation, which places the champion of the elimination cup next to the champion of the Premier League. When a team wins the championship with 3 to 5 games and has 2 games against the second or fourth division team, they should not be side by side with the team that won the championship after 30 games.
Charkhabi reminded: Persepolis and Sepahan are contenders for the championship and if a third side or polygon is to be built for the championship, there is no independence in the polygon under the current conditions.
Regarding whether Sepahan’s players’ output and achievement will be successful, he said: Morais has become familiar with Iranian football and has recruited players according to his needs and attitude. It remains to be seen whether his strategy will work or not. Even if you have the world team and play Messi and Ronaldo together, you may or may not score against a small team. Among options A, B, and C, Sepahan club attracted all the A’s on Morais’ list and now the ball is in Morais’ court.
Charkhabi, regarding Sepahan’s schedule for the first week in the Premier League and the gap between Zardpoushan fans due to the recruitment of people like Al-Kathir, said: “The first week’s game against Tractor is very important. If Sepahan does not win or does not get the necessary result, it will face problems. In the league that I see, winning the championship is very difficult. The gap between the fans of a team is unprecedented in our football. Just a few years ago, when Majidi’s team won the championship, did anyone think about it at the beginning of the season? Sometimes, maybe not even the fans criticized the conditions of the team, but when his team went forward little by little and showed itself, the fans were more attracted to the team.
In response to the question whether the number of Sepahan attackers can hit this team like Esteghlal in the 22nd season, he reminded: It depends on the coach’s thinking and the conditions governing the team. It is true that last year Esadi progressed to Mr. Goli, but he has the ability to play in central defense and defensive midfielder position. Shekari can also play in other positions. Therefore, first, we need to see how Morais puts together his tactical puzzle. Sepahan has bought good materials and bought expensive ones, but until the league starts and a third of the league games are played, it is not possible to judge the team’s success or failure. Last year, when the second and third weeks of the Premier League games were over, I announced that Sepahan’s foreign players will not work for this team. Sepahan or any other team that wants to recruit a foreign player, must get a player who is head and neck above the Iranian players.