Ghalenoei: Why Should I Change the Coaching Staff? / I Have Not Promised Anyone a Championship +Video

The head coach of Iran's national football team said: I raised the problems at the Federation's executive board meeting, and not a single person spoke up at all.

According to Ambassador Arjan, the head coach of the Iranian national football team, Amir Ghalenoui, explained in a television interview the reasons why some players, including Mehdi Qaidi, Mohammad Khodabandelo, and Ahmad Noorollahi, were not invited to the national team's camp, and explained the technical conditions of the players, the physical condition of the legionnaires, the national team's preparation plans for the Asian Nations Cup, and also the case of Alireza Biranvand.

Qaidi played the most national games during my time

Regarding Mehdi Qaidi's non-invitation to the national team, Ghalenoui stated: This player was not invited to the national team when he was in Esteghlal. It is better to check his statistics to find out which head coach had the most number of national games. When Qaidi won the championship with Esteghlal, Carlos Queiroz and Wilmots, who were the head coaches of the national team at the time, did not invite him.

He added: "If I was looking for a margin, I would not have invited a player from Ittihad Kolba." I have principles and frameworks and anyone who crosses them will definitely not be invited. Mehdi Qaidi has played the most national games during my presence. I carefully check the players' statistics and playing minutes, and technical conditions are very important to me.

Referring to the injury status of some players, the head coach of the national team said: Qaidi was injured twice in America. Like Roozbe Cheshmi, we have formed an excellent medical team that reports to us every day. If Roozbe Cheshmi was ready, he could have shown his best season for the national team. He, Ehsan Hajsafi and Ramin Rezaiyan could help us, but we consider the conditions of the players. Every player who participated in the previous camp is not supposed to be invited to all subsequent camps.

About the non-invitation of Mohammad Hossein Kananizadegan and Ali Alipour, Ghalenoui said: I wish the medical team would have been present and explained that these two players were injured.

Qalanoi's explanation about not being invited to Khodabandelu

In response to a question about Mohammad Khodabandelu not being invited, the head coach of the national team said: We must explain all the issues clearly. In the national team, except for the goalkeeper, the central defender and to some extent the defensive midfielder, you cannot have more than two players in each position. For example, in the left winger position, we sometimes make changes and use a player like Aria Yousefi in several positions, including left winger and left piston. We have to consider the ability of the players and the needs of the team.

He continued: Do we have a problem in the left defense position or not? We are currently reviewing the conditions of this post. The players we have should be selected according to the needs of the team. We also have four or five players in the defensive midfield position. Mohammad Khodabandelou was one of the players who found good football conditions during my time in Golgohar and then went to another team. In this position, we have players like Saeed Ezzatollahi and Mohammad Ghorbani, and in the recent camp we added Arif Haji Eidi. There is also Omid Dolufaken, and I was really sorry that he missed the line in the 90th minute.

Dennis has yet to show his true potential

Ghalenoui further said about the performance of Denis Dargahi and his condition in the national team: Denis has lived in Europe for many years. If a player has played in a professional European league for 10-12 years, are we wrong or are they wrong? He needs some time to adapt to the environment and establish a closer relationship with other players, but technically he has not yet shown what he is capable of. This is normal.

The head coach of the national team also said about Ahmed Nurollahi not being invited: We have good young players in this position now. Mohammad Ghorbani, Razzakinia, Omid Nourafken and several other players are present in this position. Expectations should be appropriate to the situation. It is better not to talk about Nurullahi anymore.

Criticizing some critics of the national team, he added: When Iranian football had 14 legionnaire players, such bonuses were paid, but these same people did not have such expectations from the national team and made their special coach the national champion.

The Europa League cannot be compared with the Emirates and Qatar leagues

Referring to the difference in the conditions of the players working in the European leagues and the Persian Gulf countries, Qalanoui said: Where is the European League and where are the UAE and Qatar leagues? You cannot prepare a player with two training sessions. We passed two tournaments; One was the Asian Nations Cup and the other was the World Cup, where we had good quality in terms of physical conditions.

He continued: "Now we have written that we should have the players of the national team from December 19 or 20." My colleagues and I provide very good conditions for the players. One of the experts said that the club is a place to consume players, not to create players; This is really funny. My question to him is, should we collect players from the streets and markets?

Referring to the physical loss of some legionnaires, the head coach of the national team stated: Our players who play in the leagues of the UAE and Persian Gulf countries, in the first camp of the national team after the World Cup, compared to the match against Egypt, which was our last game in the 2026 World Cup, had a 25% physical loss.

No one asked me questions in the board meeting

About the meeting of the Football Federation's Board of Directors and the topics raised in it, Ghalenoui said: "My colleagues are all good and they will not change." In the board meeting, I explained and spoke for 10 minutes, but I swear to God, not a single person asked a question. If there are any questions, I am available, but no one asked any questions and we left the meeting.

He added: "I didn't promise a championship at all in that meeting." None of the board members asked me the slightest question. I explained the problems of the national team and told the members that if anyone can lead the national team to the semi-finals or finals of the Asian Cup under these conditions, God willing. No one said the slightest word to me. It is interesting that Hojat Karimi, a member of the board of the football federation, is one of our friends, but the only thing he confirmed in the board meeting was his own words.

Qalanoi: I have not advised any committee about Biranvand's case and I do not mediate

The head coach of the national team further commented on Alireza Biranvand's dispute with Tractor Club, the possibility of mediation to solve this problem and the issue of the goalkeeper's military service: the law should be the same for everyone and Biranvand should also act according to the law. He has not had the necessary concentration in recent times. I talked to him in the game with Uzbekistan; Biranvand is a great player and is considered one of the pillars of the national team.

He continued: At his request, I sent him to the field in the match against Uzbekistan, but he was benched in the next match. I don't know if he wants to join the army or not. If he is going to join the army, we should consider a special plan for his participation in the Asian Nations Cup.

At the end, Qalanoui emphasized: I have not made the slightest recommendation about Biranvand's cases to any committee.