Ali Tajernia, the acting CEO of Esteghlal, regarding the victory of this team over Al-Sadd in Basra and the current situation said: "I think one of the good decisions we made was choosing Basra as the host. Although teams from other countries had suggested various locations, the choice was based on the fact that Basra is suitable both for the concentration of Shia in Iraq and those who have a good relationship with Iran, and also due to its proximity to Abadan and Khorramshahr."
Strong Presence of Fans in the Stadium
Tajernia continued: "I remember last season when we had matches outside of Iran, perhaps around 500 fans would come to the stadium, but last night, at least around 2,000 from Iran and perhaps over 3 to 4 thousand from Iraq were present in the stadium." He expressed satisfaction with the cooperation of local officials in this choice and said: "Certainly, for the next two months when we will host again in Basra, we will take serious measures to feel that Esteghlal's home stadium is located there."
Uplifting Victory for Esteghlal
Tajernia analyzed the performance of the coaching staff regarding Esteghlal's victory over Al-Sadd and stated: "Al-Sadd is a very powerful team and has had good results in previous competitions. However, the coaching staff's strategy in utilizing counter-attacks was very effective, and this victory was uplifting for us."
He also referred to the positive changes in the team's lineup and the abilities of the head coach, Sohrab Bakhtiyari-Zadeh, saying: "Sohrab prioritizes Esteghlal over personal matters. This shows his concern for the team."
Existing Controversies and Challenges
Tajernia also spoke about the controversies related to Yasser Asani and the opinions of Sa Pinto, adding: "Unfortunately, some clubs only think about creating controversies and their goal is to undermine the team representing their country. We must respond to these matters with professional behavior."
Tajernia concluded by saying: "We must show our performance, and in this regard, our behavior and actions should be based on reality so that we can gain the trust of the fans."
Read more: Esteghlal Had a Strong Start in Asia with a Convincing Victory Over Al-Sadd of Qatar · Idy Dunbar Keeps Mas at the Top in the Nineteenth Stage
