Ramin Rezaiyan, the experienced 36-year-old defender of Foolad, suffered a severe injury during the Iranian national team's friendly matches in September, in the dying minutes of the game against Russia. This injury, which has led to a 40-day absence from the field, has become one of the worst pieces of news for Hamid Motahari, the head coach of Foolad. Now he finds himself in a difficult situation and must look for a worthy replacement for Rezaiyan.
Hamid Motahari's Challenges in Team Composition
In the past two weeks, Hamid Motahari has had to make changes to his starting lineup. During this time, he has utilized Sasan Ansari, the experienced captain of Foolad, in the right-back position, who has shown acceptable performance. However, Foolad also has another option for this position: Mohammad Ali Kazemi, a 29-year-old defender who may be included in the starting lineup this week against Nassaji.
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In the second half of the match between Foolad and Malavan, when his team was on the verge of defeat, Motahari sent Mohammad Ali Kazemi onto the field in place of Sasan Ansari. This decision led to a positive outcome, and Foolad managed to achieve victory with two late goals. This success may give Motahari more confidence in Kazemi.
Match Congestion and the Need for Fit Players
Sasan Ansari's participation in all matches for a full 90 minutes seems challenging for him. Given the congestion of matches and the need for players to be in ideal condition, the possibility of Mohammad Ali Kazemi being in the starting lineup for Foolad against Nassaji is not far-fetched. Meanwhile, just a few days after this match, Foolad will face Persepolis, and Motahari may again rely on Sasan Ansari.
The competition between Sasan Ansari and Mohammad Ali Kazemi not only relates to technical challenges but also reflects the competitive spirit and efforts of the players to attract the head coach's attention. This situation could help the team perform better in future games and get closer to its goals.
It seems that these changes in the lineup will also provide an opportunity for younger players to prove themselves on the field. Considering that Foolad is always looking to improve its performance, this internal competition could strengthen the team and enhance the quality of future games.
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