Rewritten Title: Political Dynamics Overshadow Persepolis’s League Performance, Says Former Star
Article:
A Coach’s Point to Prove
Former Persepolis player Morteza Fonounizadeh has broken his silence on the team’s current form, highlighting a politically charged subplot in their upcoming match. He revealed that the opposing team’s coach, Mehdi Tartar, was a serious candidate and alternative for the Persepolis head coach position before the season began, a role that ultimately went to Vahid Hashemian.
“This match holds significant importance for Mehdi Tartar,” Fonounizadeh stated, pointing to the professional and political dimensions of the fixture. He further emphasized the competitive stakes, noting that Tartar’s current team, Gol Gohar Sirjan, now sits one place above Persepolis in the league table.
A Call for Patience from Within
Amidst growing speculation about the team’s leadership, Fonounizadeh issued a strong defense of the current management. When questioned about potential changes to the technical staff, he advocated for stability and strategic patience.
“I don’t know if the board of directors has given Hashemian an ultimatum or not,” he commented. “But in my opinion, it is far too early to be making decisions about dismissing Vahid Hashemian. We must wait at least until the mid-season and give him more time.”
Performance in Perspective
The former star urged for a realistic assessment of the team’s standing, framing their current position as a success. He argued that criticism of the head coach is largely unfounded given the team’s performance.
“Realistically, the team is in third place, which is effectively the top of the table and counts as one of the three leading teams,” Fonounizadeh asserted. “Therefore, we cannot find too much fault with the Persepolis head coach.” His comments serve to temper expectations and focus on the long-term political and strategic management of the club.
