A Golden Opportunity: Golmohammadi Seeks Crucial Points Against Persepolis
TEHRAN – Ahead of the highly anticipated match between Persepolis and Foolad Khuzestan in the third week of Iran’s Premier League, Foolad’s head coach, Yahya Golmohammadi, addressed the media, setting the stage for a tactical and spirited encounter.
A Tribute and a Challenge
The press conference began on a note of solemn remembrance. Coach Golmohammadi first paid tribute to the late Ali Ansarian, honoring his memory on National Cinema Day, before shifting focus to the upcoming sporting challenge.
A Strategic Imperative for Foolad
Golamohammadi, who has a long history both as a player and coach at Persepolis, emphasized the critical nature of the upcoming fixture for his current team. “We were unable to secure good points in the first two weeks,” he stated, underscoring the team’s position. “Therefore, tomorrow’s game is a suitable opportunity for us to both deliver a strong performance and earn points. Our goal is to secure points.”
Acknowledging the strength of their opponent, he added, “We know we are facing one of the main contenders of the league, a rival that has achieved good results in the first two weeks.”
Preparation and High Motivation
The Foolad manager confirmed that his squad is entering the match with significant drive and thorough preparation. “We have a lot of motivation. Given the league break, we had good training sessions and tried to cover our weaknesses more. We are ready to face Persepolis and are in a situation where we must take good points from this match.”
Expressing his hope for an engaging contest, Golmohammadi said, “I hope a good match comes out of it and the fans enjoy it. I hope the team does not find itself in a situation where it concedes goals easily.”
Boosting Morale with a New Signing
Addressing the high-profile transfer of Vahid Amiri from Persepolis to Foolad, Golmohammadi highlighted the positive impact on the squad’s morale. “With the addition of Vahid Amiri, the players became more motivated. This is the nature of football, and all players experience such events.”
He praised Amiri’s stature within Iranian football, stating, “Vahid Amiri is one of those players for whom all football professionals have respect.” Confident in the player’s professionalism, he added, “I hope his departure does not affect his technical and mental performance; of course, he is a great player and this will not happen.”
Focus on Fair Play and Facilities
Commenting on his previous criticisms of refereeing, Golmohammadi clarified his stance, aligning it with the spirit of fair competition. “The VAR system has come to reduce refereeing errors and help football, not to complicate it further.” He also stressed the importance of infrastructure, noting, “The more equipped the stadiums are, the more the fans and teams will enjoy it.”
Team News: Injury Updates
The coach also provided updates on key personnel, confirming that national team players Ali Nemati and Yousoufov are currently injured, with Yousoufov expected to be sidelined for at least one to two months.
