Carlos Queiroz introduced his newly appointed assistant, the Portuguese Oceano Andrade da Cruz in a press conference on Sunday. Team Melli coach praised his compatriot and informed the press conference that He and Oceano have worked together before in Sporting Lisbon where Oceano was a player under Queiroz and then later when Queiroz selected him to be as assistant coach. Queiroz said that Oceano will be a great asset for Team MElli and he is a valuable addition to the team. He welcomed Oceano on board and wished him the best.
Queroz then talked about Team Melli program and said the time is tight and they have to do their utmost best, He the said “You have all watched the matches in the AFC Champions League. I don’t need to comment on that, but we will be meeting much tougher opposition in Brazil(….)”
Queiroz then went on explaining how Argentina and Bosnia play their football and repeated his previous statement about how difficult it is to face these teams.
Team Melli coach then clarified the plan for the forthcoming training camp in South Africa. “We will start the camp in South Africa on the 12th of April and it should last for 3 weeks. Our objective is very clear in South Africa, and that is to familiarize ourselves with African football and in particularly our first opponent in the World Cup, Nigeria.”
“We will be going to South Africa with 24 players. Our squad will be short by 8 to 10 players as our legionnaires will not be available for this camp. Further to that we will increase the squad to 33 and up to 36 before we finally trim the squad to the mandatory 23 players. Thanks to the great efforts of the federation, the Austrian training camp is also finalized and we have enough financial support to carry on our program in Europe and also play 4 matches without having to pay fees for the opponents .”
“After the Austria camp , we will return to Tehran Before we finally fly to Brazil”
Queiroz denied that he told a newspaper “good riddance” when asked to comment on Mojtaba Jabbari’s intention to quit Team Melli. Quieroz said “You need to ask that newspaper where and how they came up with those words. Saying that, I really have no time for players who are not interested to play for Team Melli whatever are the reasons. I need to concentrate and focus on players who are willing to play for their country despite the difficulties, hardships and any problems they are encountering.”
Queiroz said that Javad Nekounam , has approached him to convey Mojtaba Jabbari’s decision to quit. Team Melli coach said that such decisions should be discussed by the player himself without any intermediaries. “Jabbari needs to inform the FFIRI and Kaffashain first. As far as I am concerned, I am not going to dig deep in the reasons behind a player’s decision to quit. It makes no difference to me whatever the reasons are for quitting” Querioz said. “I am just surprised that the media got hold of Jabbari’s decision before Kaffashian and the federation.”
twisted attitudes and indiscipline which is quite common here
Queiroz then continued his smear campaign against the ex-Team Melli assistant coach Omid Namazi “The only responsibility I take is for recruiting Namazi. I apologize for everyone on that. He is now working in USA. Let me tell you something funny. I guarantee you that we will turn up with 11 players against Nigeria with some media personal also supporting us. Because of some twisted attitudes and indiscipline which is quite common here, we had Rahmati , then Aghili , Namazi and now Jabbari leave us.”
“We have two ways to deal with this, either cry because of their absence or laugh. I chose the latter because it is easier and more productive. Working and smiling to players who are willing to be part of the team is much more interesting and rewarding. Let us talk about these players who are with us and are willing to defend the reputation of their country while accepting Jabbari’s decision.”
“The irony of Jabbrai’s decision to quit is that his club president was quite supportive of Team Melli and was willing to release him for the training camp, while the player himself has quit. I will make a note of that in my memoir and mention how a Qatari citizen was willing to assist Team Melli while an Iranian player was quitting”
Queiroz once again, failed to mention that his compatriot, Toni Simoez also quit Team Melli and left the team for cold focusing on Namazi’s departure only as an act of malice!
Sardar Azmoun and Alireza Jahanbakhsh will be considered for the World Cup Squad
The Portuguese coach apologized for not being too transparent about the matches that will be played in South Africa but said it will be 4 matches and some might not last the full 90 minutes (…).
Asked about the proposed Iranian assistant coach appointment, he responded that he needs time to decide and does not want to make the same mistake as with Namazi !!!
On the question whether Sardar Azmoun and Alireza Jahanbakhsh will be considered for the World Cup Squad, Queiroz said that “there is a great possibility that the two players after gaining the experience of playing in Europe , will be included in the final list to Brazil”
Queiroz conveyed his thanks to the league clubs, coaches and administrators for supporting Team Melli, something that he has rarely done due to the recurrent disputes with the league clubs and coaches stemming from Team Melli disruptive scheduling of the league matches and due to the accusations by many coaches that Quieroz is sneering and undermining the domestic league.