Tehran
In a controversial interview with Khabar varzeshi, Team Melli’c coach Carlos Queiroz has threatened to resign if the pandemonium in Iranian football continues and if he is unfairly blamed for disrupting league football in the country.
Carlos Queiroz sounded quite emotional and disturbed in the interviews conducted in one of the busy restaurants of Tehran. Due to the chaos engulfing Iranian football, Queiroz is having serious thought about his future in Iran. TeamMelli.com and due to the importance of the issues underlined by Queiroz is preparing a two parts articles covering the interview and the analysis of his statements.
The Portuguese coach, who was at the helm of his country’s national team in the last World Cup in South Africa, began the interview with ‘Khabar Varzeshi’ reporter by saying “As the most popular sport publication in Iran, you have a mission to tell the truth with facts. This could be my last chance to send my message to the football fans and the people of Iran. This is why I am here with you.”
“By all means , there are many people around who genuinely try to help Team Melli, but there are also those who have been creating difficulties and hurdles for us.”
Kaffashian has to decide right today whether he wants me to continue or not.
“Today would have been our 2nd day of the Team Melli training camp in Portugal. Instead, and while the rest f the World Football Teams are hot in preparation for matches, I am sitting with you in a restaurant to air my grievances. This is truly shameful. After 30 months in this country, I am confident enough to talk about many things that I am certain of regarding football. “
“Unfortunately for Team Melli , but luckily for Kaffashian and Taj nowadays the focus of attention is towards the Tehran Derby rather than the plight of Team Melli. FIFA has the authority to cancel all league matches when it comes to the National teams commitments. This Friday, there will be approximately 70 international friendlies right across the globe, we are not part of this scheme because we are busy with Esteghlal and Perspolis. Which 4 teams have qualified for the World Cup? us , Japan, Australia and South Korea. What are those team doing, and what are doing? Look at the fixture of those teams on FIFA site, they are playing the likes of Brazil and France, we are lucky because we are playing Thailand and Kuwait ! They are thinking about the World Cup, while our priority is the Tehran derby on Friday!”
“I have no worries about those who are after my job. I will do my own work the way I want to do it. Any of the current league coaches can take my place right now. I have no issue if Ghalenoei or Daei or anyone else for that matter takes my place. But while I am at the helm , I will do it my way. My concern and interest is towards Team Melli, I want to talk about Team Melli to you , I want to be transparent , I want to tell it all.”
“Today people like Fathollazadeh , Taj and Rahimi are all accusing me of being the bad man of Iran’s football. They keep saying that it is Queiroz who wants to suspend the league and does not want the Hazfi cup to be played. The way they say it as if every problem in Iran is the fault of Carlos Queiroz!”
Asked by the reporter “Under all these negative circumstances, what is your reaction and plan of action?”
“Let me say things that I perhaps never said before. I don’t like to work under these stressful conditions. I have written to Kaffashian about arranging a meeting where the topic will be nullifying my contract. I am not the type of person to accept these negative conditions and be portrayed as the evil while I have nothing but respect, admiration and love for this country especially the fans who will forever remain in my heart for their fantastic support.”
Taj is selected a league program that will lead to the demise of the players and the league.
Q” Cancelling your contract, Are you serious?”
“I definitely am serious; there is no joke in that. I will accept all hardship including lack of financial support, no training camps, or not being paid, amongst other difficulties. I am a professional coach who can withstand these negative issues. I also have a professional contract. There is no clause in that contract that mentions I have to engage in personal contests with Sepahan or Esteghlal bosses or the league club coaches, who have accused me of being the reason for Iran’s football problems. I will never accept such accusation from them. If I have to face individuals and start fighting with them , then add that into the contract and compensate me for it.”
“I am the coach of Team Melli and I work to prepare my team accordingly. I don’t want to be involved in the league coaches battles nor be involved in their differences. I also do not want to be accused by Taj that I am standing against the league clubs and robbing them of their players.”
Q. ” But if you submit your resignation , aren’t you falling for the very people who want you to out?”
Queiroz ” I am just telling you what I feel and quite frankly as I said before, I cannot stand working under this condition. I have served with Portugal , Sporting , Real Madrid and Manchester United in a professional environment. I simply cannot accept working in this environment where most of my resources are spent firefighting with people who insist that the earth is flat and all the rest of the planets revolves around the earth. I quite like discussing issues with the club coaches on various technical issues, but not with Club chairmen. Instead of these chairmen attending to their business like building stadiums, training grounds, buying proper kits for the team , paying the players on times, they engage in technical issues that they have no clue about. These are the same people that when Team Melli faces difficulties, they laugh and invite their fans to mock us rather than support their beloved national team during difficult times.”