I came close to leaving the national volleyball team/ the next coach is definitely a foreigner! – Mehr news agency Iran and world’s news
According to Mehr reporter, Behrouz Atai, the head coach of Iran’s national volleyball team, received a lot of criticism from volleyball fans after the national team’s runner-up finish in Asia. He responded to these criticisms by appearing on the “Gymnasium” program this Friday.
Why does the national team not have a fixed composition?
In response to the question why the national team did not have a fixed composition to participate in the competitions, Atai said: We need different competitions and methods to reach the composition. In the past years, we had a stable and close composition, and only two out of six people were transferred, and most of the team was constant. The changes were few and insignificant, but we lost a lot of players and we need time to get a lot of formation.
My players did not have much experience
The head coach of Iran’s national volleyball team continued: We have not yet reached the main lineup. After the Olympics, except for Milad Ebadipour, other players did not have much experience and number of national games. This made it difficult for us. We are going through a difficult time. We used seven strikers to play in front of Japan, but we could not change the flow of the game with any of them. The main reason was that they are close to each other and this makes our work difficult.
Saeed Marouf was also accused
Regarding the two teams in the national team, he said: This is not true at all. Previously, Saeed Marouf was accused of interfering in everything. When you play, everything is said and every criticism is made. I spoke with Milad Ebadipour and Mohammad Mousavi. I told Milad to introduce me to a good foreign assistant and coach. I said the same to Seyyed Mohammad. We also negotiated with other coaches, but the figures were very high. Milad introduced two options, one of which was the head coach of Piacenza.
There are few suitable assistants in Iran
Atai said about the assistants he had on the bench and the criticisms raised in this case: The characteristics of the assistant are different from the head coach. In Iran, when talking about assistants, everyone talks about head coaches. We have very few suitable assistants in Iran. He should be the one who can do the assistantship well. We don’t have much money to bring from abroad. Our economic and political issues are very influential in this matter. Pavel had a contract with us until the end of the League of Nations.
Defeat against Japan
Behrouz Atai said about the consecutive defeats to Japan that happened during his time: Japan lost to us for years and the same situation continued until 2019. Our bad performance against Japan started in 2020 because they were working. These failures were not just my time either. During the time of the foreign coach, we lost to Japan.
Defiance of great volleyball players
Regarding the fact that some players consider themselves higher than the head coach and the players do not have a say in the technical staff, he said: This is not the case at all. In the big teams of the world, big players have their own stubbornness, but it does not mean that they interfere. Our volleyball has been accused of player domination for many years. In the period of foreign head coaches, the national team used to say this.
Looking to consult with the player is wrong
Atai continued: It is a misconception to say that the player has seen three Nations Leagues and his knowledge is higher than the head coach. Many great coaches in the world did not have such experience, but they have been successful in their work. I do not accept these things. This is a wrong analysis that takes place in Iranian volleyball. I have always been in touch and consulted with my captain. Unfortunately, in Iran, any kind of consultation is seen as weakness and interference.
Why did Ebadipour go back and forth?
Regarding why Milad Ebadipour was invited to the national team several times, he said: He was not invited to the national team camp because of his injury and of course the birth of his son. We have a list of 30 players, players are invited according to their conditions and the upcoming event. All players are treated the same. Unfortunately, we have belittled Iran’s national volleyball team with our words.
The countdown to my departure has begun
Regarding the attack on Behrouz Atai after the defeat against Japan and the support of the federation, he said: I came with two lines and I can go with one of my own. The day I arrived, the countdown to my departure began. Now I am close to that day. The volleyball federation supported, but I feel that all the criticism is directed at me and the technical staff. This is unnatural.
Instability on the bench of the national team
The head coach of Iran’s national volleyball team stated that the instability on the bench of the national team has harmed Iran’s national volleyball team and said: After Velasco, I am the seventh coach of the national team. All critics claim that we are among the top 10 teams in the world. Name one team among the top 15 teams in the world that has changed 7 coaches during this period. The reason is the pressure of public opinion and media. Unfortunately, they put all the blame on the head coach.
The next foreign coach is definitely foreign
Regarding whether the head coach of Iran can sit on the bench of the national team after you, he said: I think that the coach of the national team after me will definitely be a foreigner.
My hands are up and I apologize
In the end, Behrouz Atai said: The talks we had were about the events that had happened. We are not going to be successful in any event. I have the upper hand as the main person of the technical staff. I apologized to the people many times. My hand is raised and I bow down to the waist in front of people and apologize. I hope that our attitude towards volleyball will not hurt this field.
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