Rewritten Title: Strategic Shifts and Defensive Challenges: Esteghlal’s Path to the Top
Article:
A former Esteghlal player has provided a detailed analysis of the team’s recent string of draws in the Persian Gulf Pro League, citing a league-wide tactical trend and internal defensive issues as the primary challenges.
A League-Wide Defensive Mentality
In a recent interview, former club star Saeid Moraghechian commented on the team’s latest draw in the sixth week of the competition. He observed that a significant shift in playing style across the league is making it difficult for all top clubs to secure wins.
“Unfortunately, the direction of the country’s football is such that almost all teams have resorted to defensive tactics,” Moraghechian stated. “This has made the job hard for every club. It’s not just Esteghlal that isn’t winning its matches; almost all the main contenders are frequently ending their games with a draw. This shows that their opponents are entering the field with the sole mentality of avoiding a loss against these top teams at all costs.”
Internal Defensive Errors Under Scrutiny
While acknowledging the external challenges, the former player was quick to point out that Esteghlal must also look inward. He identified recurring mistakes in the defensive line as a major reason for the dropped points.
“Of course, we must not overlook that Esteghlal itself is at fault for these draw results,” he added. “One of the biggest reasons has been repeated errors in the defensive line, which have caused the team to finish games with a draw. The losses we suffered against Asian teams and Esteghlal Khuzestan were also due to goals that almost all resulted from mistakes by the defense and the goalkeeper.”
He suggested a clear path forward for head coach Rogerio Sa Pinto: “In my opinion, Mr. Sa Pinto must currently focus on the defense more than anything else. No matter how well we attack, the results of our efforts are negated by mistakes in the defensive line and from the goalkeeper.”
A Tale of Two Halves and Squad Selection Questions
Moraghechian expressed bewilderment at the team’s fluctuating performance levels, using the match against Chadormalu as an example. He questioned why the team only showed its brilliant, attacking potential in the final 30 minutes after conceding a goal.
“I am surprised when Esteghlal players can play so beautifully and spectacularly in the final 30 minutes, creating so many chances, why don’t they play like that from the beginning?” he remarked. “After we conceded another goal from a mistake, we immediately became a different team. You couldn’t even compare the Esteghlal before the goal and after it. The team’s situation was completely turned upside down.”
He also raised concerns about certain player acquisitions, questioning the logic behind signing some foreign players when, in his view, more capable domestic alternatives are available within the country’s own football system.
A Vote of Confidence for the Coach
Despite the criticisms, the former player firmly opposed the idea of dismissing coach Sa Pinto at this juncture. He argued that the Portuguese manager needs more time to fully implement his system, citing delayed squad finalization and the poor physical conditioning of some new signings as mitigating factors.
“I am against sacking Sa Pinto under these conditions because I believe he has not yet had enough coordinated training time with his players,” he explained. “We finalized the team for him very late and brought in players who were not in optimal physical condition, and some of them still aren’t.”
Highlighting the narrow gap at the top of the table, he expressed confidence in the coach’s ability to turn the situation around. “We must give Sa Pinto a chance. I am sure that now, with his presence on the sidelines, he can make Esteghlal’s condition much better than before and lead the team to the top of the table. Besides, we are only two points away from the top spot.”
