AFCL - Saba Battery coach Mohammad Hossein
Ziaie has vowed to reinforce his team should the Iranian side progress to
the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League.
Saba's hopes improved on Wednesday with a 4-2 win over Al Gharafa and Ziaie
praised the way his team fought back after going a goal down to the Qataris
before earning a vital victory that keeps them in contention to progress
from Group C.
Saba Battery coach Mohammad Hossein Ziaie
Although we were on top in the first half, we failed to score. I don't
really know what happened. Neither my boys nor the Qatari side could execute
our plans.
Al Gharafa thought after they netted the opening goal that we would draw
back, but my players played much more to my satisfaction after conceding the
first goal.
If we progress to knock-out phase, I will certainly make some changes in the
team in order to reinforce it. Of course, that's if I'm still the team
coach.
I've got no idea why their coach claims they did not travel to Tehran at
full strength. He said he had not been able to use seven of his regular
players in the squad and blamed his players' absence for the loss. He may
have forgotten that we lost to them on their home pitch, though they had all
their players prepared. I consider the Frenchman's remarks as an excuse, not
a logical point of view.
On the other hand, we didn't have two of our regular defenders on the squad,
due to suspension and another one out injured, so the conditions were equal.
Al Gharafa coach Michel Rouquette
My players were too young to play in this game. I sent seven young boys onto
the pitch, whose inexperience finally accounted for our failure. Four of my
players had not played with the rest of the team in any official match.
I knew if they scored their first goal, more would be follow as a result of
my defenders' inexperience. I was hoping we could hold on to that 1-0 lead
but Saba wouldn't let us.
After the draw for the group phase I actually thought Al Wahda would be the
strongest team, but now I've changed my mind. Saba Battery actually deserved
the victory and I should congratulate them for their win.
