In an interview with the sports reporter of Tasnim news agency, Shahin Bayani said about the conditions of the Esteghlal football team on the eve of the match with Nasaji Mazandaran in the 21st week of the Premier League: Since Ricardo Sapinto knew his players, the team has achieved results. Esteghlal enters the field with a combination that should be played, for example, playing Abolfazl Jalali in the left defense and Saleh Hardani in the right defense. Esteghlal does not have a problem with beads, but it had a problem with bead picking, which of course has been resolved. Esteghlal must not lose a single point to win the championship. I hope the current trend continues.
Referring to Esteghlal’s competition with Sepahan and Persepolis for the championship in the league, he stated: These three teams have the same chance to win the championship. Their head-to-head games can determine the league champion to some extent. Esteghlal is only three points away from the top of the table, despite defeat in two round-robin games against Sepahan. This season’s championship tie will be opened in Sepahan-Persepolis and Derby. Fortunately, Esteghlal got what it wanted in the matchmaking debate, and if Zubair Niknafs is added, the middle belt of this team will be stronger. Zubair is one of the best defensive midfielders in Iran.
The former defender noted about Ricardo Sapinto’s suspensions: it becomes a problem for a coach to be suspended for 30, 40% of the season. We should not talk about Sapinto’s record now, and the end of the season is the best time. If Sapinto was a little more professional, these things would not have happened to him. He should know that deprivations affect independence. At the moment, everyone should be thinking about making the fans happy because they are only looking for the championship.
Regarding Esteghlal’s heavy debt to Andrea Stramaccioni, the former Italian head coach of Blue Poshan, Bayani said: These are the problems caused by previous administrations. Our talking does not cure any pain. At the beginning of this season, they signed contracts and spent money in which the payment of Stramachoni’s money was not foreseen. If Stramachoni’s money had been paid on time, there would not have been so many fines. I hope that regardless of Stramachoni’s debt, they will make Esteghlal a champion and people will be a little happy.
He further mentioned about the selection of the new head coach of the national football team: whatever we talk about will not help and they will do their own work. Before the World Cup, they fired the head coach of the national team and brought in Carlos Queiroz. Everyone knew that Queiroz is even willing to pay to sit on the bench of the national team in the World Cup. He got what he wanted and now he is the head coach of the Qatar national team. Those who are football players somehow know these issues. Keirosh did not like Iranian football. He only wanted to sit on the bench of the national team to participate in the World Cup and he got what he wanted.
In the end, the Iranian football veteran said: With currency problems, choosing a foreign option means going astray. We have domestic options who can lead the national team in the Asian Nations Cup. Those who are proposed as internal options are worthy. Farhad Majidi achieved great results in Esteghlal and is now coaching in the UAE. Amir Ghalenoui’s career is known for his heroics, and Ali is also his uncle.