Mehdi Tartar, the head coach of Persepolis football team, criticized the current state of the league and its frequent breaks during a press conference before the match against Naft Abadan. He mentioned the team's dependence on winning this match, expressing that under these circumstances, he did not want to face the coaching staff of Naft, with whom he has a history of collaboration.
Challenges Ahead for Persepolis and Naft
Tartar said in this meeting: "We are condemned to win and must strive to escape the lower part of the table. Naft also has a high motivation to separate from the bottom of the table, and this match will be very sensitive for us. I wish them success, except for tomorrow's game." He also referred to the quality of Naft's players, adding: "This team has good players, and we must play with all our strength. In recent weeks, we have had a complete team and have conducted good training sessions."
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Criticism of League Breaks
Tartar continued to address the problems of the league and its breaks, stating: "One of the problems of our football is these breaks. After the imposed war, our league was suspended, and now it has been suspended again for a month in this manner. In the mid-season, due to the Asian Cup, the league is likely to be suspended for about 50 days." He addressed the officials of the Football Federation, specifically mentioning Mehdi Taj, and asked him to address this situation, questioning: "Why do you keep suspending the league? Is the situation in our country normal?"
Tartar emphasized that holding knockout competitions could help the youth and said: "If we are going to focus on youth and give young players a chance, we need to have matches under these conditions. Holding the knockout cup will help our football, and my request is that these competitions must be held." He also referred to the experience of last season's Persepolis and mentioned that the youth who play in these competitions can help the national team.
In conclusion, Tartar referred to the nature of the knockout cup, stating: "The knockout cup is the cup of surprises. Young players are showcased in these competitions, and teams get into competitive conditions. If you want to help, official competitions must be held."
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