Iran coach Ghalenoiee worried ahead of Syria game

AFC - New Iran coach Amir Ghalenoiee is grappling with injuries to key players ahead of his first match in charge of Team Melli against Syria on August 16 in the AFC Asian Cup 2007 qualification at the Azadi Stadium.

www.the-afc.com Farsi Writer Shahin Rahmani talks to the worried former Esteghlal coach and finds out about the team’s preparations.

www.the-afc.com: What is your impression of Team Melli after the recent Iran –UAE friendly?

GHALENOIEE: We need time. When you called me I was watching a video of the match for the second time. I found some basic problems which will be solved soon.

www.the-afc.com: What are these problems?

GHALENOIEE: First of all I do not know the exact physical condition of the players. The league is not on so they are not match-fit. It’s difficult to analyse even their technical abilities as I am not able to scan them in matches as I would have been able to do if they were playing in the league.

www.the-afc.com: But you have had enough time for training before meeting Syria in Tehran?

GHALENOIEE: Well…the training was not according to plan. I don’t have complete control over the players. They come and go as they please. We did not have enough time to bring them all together and set up our programme properly.

Rahman Rezaie was here for some days but he left us when we needed him for the Emirates friendly! Iman Mobaali came and went. Some other players have been absent in the same way, especially those who play in the UAE League.

www.the-afc.com: And now Ali Karimi is injured…!

GHALENOIEE: Yes. Unfortunately we have lost Ali right before the match. We had been waiting for him but he has informed us that cannot come.

www.the-afc.com: Mehdi Mahdavikia and Vahid Hashemian are also doubtful?

GHALENOIEE: Unfortunately, yes. We are not sure about them. We have our fingers crossed.

www.the-afc.com: What about the other Europe-based players like Rahman Rezaei, Javad Nekounam and Andranik Teymourian?

GHALENOIEE: All these players have promised to be here before August 16.

www.the-afc.com: How worried are you considering that this is your first match?

GHALENOIEE: I cannot deny that I am not worried. When you are not sure about your main players how can you be confident…?

www.the-afc.com: You are coaching a team which has qualified for the World Cup. So the expectations are high. Your comments.

GHALENOIEE: I consider this as our negative point. I do not mean Iran’s qualification for the World Cup. My problem is current, weeks after the World Cup. After such a huge tournament, when all the players have reached their highest motivation level, the enthusiasm is bound to go down. It is natural. They have exhausted all their enthusiasm and motivation and they are not the same as before. In addition our team couldn’t get good results in Germany. So my problem has been compounded.

But we have a young team now and you could see in the recent friendly (against UAE) that they were full of emotion. We need to solve some tactical problems by Wednesday. Anyhow, don’t forget that we are Iran!