Sohrab Bakhtiari-Zadeh, head coach of Esteghlal, has attracted a lot of attention with his remarkable performance in the Asian Elite League. After victories against Al-Sadd of Qatar and Al-Gharafa, Mehdi Pashazadeh, a former defender of this team, has shared his views on the status of Esteghlal and Bakhtiari-Zadeh's performance.
Brilliant Performance of Esteghlal
Pashazadeh says about Esteghlal's match against Al-Gharafa: "Esteghlal displayed a good game and seemed like the host in the first 30 minutes. Of course, the opponent was able to apply pressure later, but Esteghlal, with its high team spirit, came back to the game and showed one of its best performances in the last 10 years." He expressed satisfaction with the players' performance, adding that this victory was very valuable to him and hopes that Esteghlal's success continues.
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Yaser Asani's Dedication and the Need to Support Iranian Coaches
Pashazadeh continues by mentioning Yaser Asani, considering him a role model for young Iranian footballers. In his opinion, Asani shows dedication and responsibility on the field, and these qualities should be recognized.
Pashazadeh emphasized that Bakhtiari-Zadeh, with his good results this season, is a national asset and should be supported more. He criticized why Esteghlal club neglects Iranian coaches and instead of utilizing Bakhtiari-Zadeh's abilities, seeks to bring in a foreign coach. Pashazadeh says: "We must value Iranian coaches and allow them to showcase their abilities."
The Necessity of Extending Bakhtiari-Zadeh's Contract
Pashazadeh, referring to Bakhtiari-Zadeh's results in the last 10 matches of Esteghlal, which include 6 victories and 4 draws, explicitly urged the club to extend his contract for another 3 years. He criticized the perspective of some individuals towards Iranian coaches, stating: "Unfortunately, some people seek their personal interests instead of supporting domestic coaches. If a foreign coach achieved these results, his contract would be extended quickly. But unfortunately, this is not the case for Iranian coaches."
This former Esteghlal defender emphasized Bakhtiari-Zadeh's honesty and capability, urging the club to trust him and utilize his potentials. He also pointed out that behaviors and decisions should be made based on the merit and performance of coaches, not based on preconceived notions and incorrect biases.
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