Iran Coach Blasts Bayern Over Karimi

GOAL - Coach of Iranian national team Amir Ghalenoi has blasted Bayern Munich for not utilizing Ali karimi.

The talented midfielder has barely featured in the Bundesliga since returning from the World Cup and Ghalenoi is concerned about how sitting on the sidelines will affect the 2004 Asian Player of the Year as well as Team Melli.

"Because he's not getting played in Munich we're getting hurt because it is dragging his quality lower and lower," Ghalenoi said.

"Karimi is one of those players who can only show his worth when he is on the pitch and playing. If you put him on the bench it doesn't matter whether he's on the bench for Bayern Munich or Bangladesh, he's not going to go anywhere, just backwards.”

Karimi joined the German giants in the summer of 2005 and after a solid first season has fallen out of favour with boss Felix Magath and it is unlikely that the 28 year-old will be offered a new contract when the current season ends.

Ghalenoi is hoping that the player gets time on the pitch sooner rather than later, in Bavaria or elsewhere.

"No matter where he is he will do well, but he needs to be playing. Karimi is one of those technical players who wants to be on the pitch and that's where he excels.

"I spoke to him on Saturday night and he said it's almost made him depressed and he's in a stressful condition right now.

"If he is only a substitute he's going to become a worse and worse player. Karimi is a player who needs the confidence of playing and then he can show his abilities.

"When he's sitting on the bench they are causing his mental state to worsen and other things like injuries follow that."

Karimi has been linked with Austrian leaders SV Salzburg as well as a number of clubs in the Middle-East.