Title: Key Goalkeeper’s Race Against Time for Esteghlal Ahead of Capital Derby
Injury Blow to Esteghlal’s Mainstay
A significant development has emerged concerning Esteghlal Football Club’s preparations for the upcoming Tehran derby. The team faced a major setback following an injury to their established first-choice goalkeeper, Habib Farabbasi, during the match against Aluminium Arak. Farabbasi had cemented his position in the starting lineup and was widely regarded as being in strong form.
A Glimmer of Hope for the Derby
Initial medical assessments indicated that Farabbasi would be unable to participate in high-intensity training until early December, seemingly ruling him out of the capital derby scheduled for mid-December. However, new reports suggest a potential change in the situation. Team management has reportedly informed head coach Ricardo Sá Pinto, who is currently abroad, that Farabbasi could potentially resume training by the end of this week.
The final decision rests with the medical team.如果他们 determine that his recovery has progressed sufficiently to safely accelerate his training regimen by approximately ten days, Farabbasi could be cleared to face Persepolis. This development is of paramount importance to Coach Sá Pinto, for whom the derby is a top priority.
Clarifying the Comeback Timeline
While the possibility of featuring in the derby has increased, at least on paper, it is confirmed that Farabbasi will not be available for the Hazfi Cup match. Furthermore, his participation in the match against Al Wasl of the UAE on December 5th is also considered highly unlikely. The focus remains squarely on his rehabilitation progress for the pivotal derby clash.