TEHRANTIMES - Coach Amir Ghalenoei criticized Esteghlal fans after defeat against Al-Hilal in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday.

Iran’s Esteghlal lost to Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the group stage of the AFC Champions League in front of about 80,000 spectators in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.   

Some Esteghlal fans chanted Farhad Majidi’s name during the match, after the striker was forced to sit out the match.

“We started good but I think our players were exhausted and could not maintain their form. Our players should not take the match for granted,” Ghalenoei said in the post-match news conference.

Enraged Ghalenoei added, “Two things surprised me. First, I don’t know why some fans threw missiles onto the field. And why we are playing better in our away matches. I think some fans come here to make trouble for us,” he added.

Esteghlal remained on top of Group D with seven points, followed by Al-Ain of the UAE and Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia with, both with six points.