After reaching the milestone of 150 international matches with the Iranian national football team, Ehsan Hajsafi faced a lot of criticism. This criticism has particularly targeted Amir Ghalenoei, the head coach of the national team, questioning why he continues to call up the 36-year-old left-back from Sepahan. However, Hajsafi showcased his abilities in Sepahan's recent match against Fajr Sepasi, being one of the most effective players in his team's high-scoring victory with 2 goals and 1 assist.
Hajsafi's Brilliance on the Field
While Hajsafi's call-up to the national team has been met with sharp criticism due to his age and the need for youth, he demonstrated in his recent game that he still possesses the ability to perform at the highest level of Iranian football. So far this season, Hajsafi has scored 3 goals and provided 2 assists in 7 matches, and his statistics are notable compared to other left-back options for the national team. For example, Mohammad Nadri, the 30-year-old defender from Tractor, has not registered any goals or assists in 8 matches.
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Comparison of Statistics and Performances
Hajsafi has recorded a total of 5 goals and assists this season, while other options like Abolfazl Jalali and Hossein Goudarzi have not been very successful in their statistics. Studies show that Hajsafi has a better performance in terms of direct involvement in goals compared to other left-backs. For instance, Farzin Mo'allem and Pedram Ghazipour have also failed to leave a significant mark in their games.
Meanwhile, Hajsafi has also shown that he can still act as an influential defender, with good statistics from Sepahan regarding goals conceded and clean sheets. Sepahan has conceded 5 goals and recorded 4 clean sheets in their last 7 matches, indicating a relatively good performance for the team defensively.
Given Hajsafi's performance at the club and his impressive statistics, the criticism of Ghalenoei regarding the call-up of young players may require reconsideration. It seems that youth development should not mean sidelining an experienced and quality player like Hajsafi, who can still play an important role in the national team.
With the experience gained from 150 international matches, Hajsafi has a good understanding of the international football landscape, which can benefit the national team in the future. However, it is necessary to evaluate his performance in the last two national team matches, especially against Uzbekistan, where he made significant mistakes.
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