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GOAL - Since taking over as Iranian coach in July, Amir Ghaleneoi is happy with the way things have gone during what has been a difficult period in the country’s football history.

When the former Esteghlal boss succeeded Branko Ivankovic, morale in the team was in tatters after a poor World Cup campaign and reports of dressing room disunity.

“The spirit of the team was not very good,” Ghaleneoi told the Iranian Student News Agency, "and even some of the foreign based players had had enough of football and even wanted to stop playing for the National team.”

“I told them of the state of the National team and of pride for country, and fortunately all of them are working hard and, thank God, the situation is good now.”

The coach has since achieved phase one of his plan – to secure qualification for the 2007 Asian Cup but he knows that there is much still to do.

“We should not ignore that we have room to play better and room to get better results. One of the major problems in that period was that the league was over and, therefore, the team was not in good physical, mental, or technical shape.

"Fortunately, the league has now started and with the points we earned, the issue of team spirit and motivation has been resolved to a certain degree."

Ghaleneoi who won the Iranian Pro League title last season with Esteghlal also had some encouraging words for Ferydoon Zandi, the Koblenz star who has yet to feature in the squad since the end of the World Cup

”I believe that Ferydoon Zandi is a very good player,” he said. "However, as you know, Ferydoon is not in the same position now that he was before. He is playing for a second division team and is not a starter yet. Be sure that if Fereydoon Zandi finds an ideal situation for himself in Germany, he will definitely be among those called up.”

The coach is preparing for Team Melli’s final Asian Cup qualifier against South Korea in Tehran. The visitors, who have also already qualified, will bring a young team to the Iranian capital in preparation for the Asian games in Doha but Ghaleneoi is expected to call all his stars in a bid to take first place in Group B.

“Korea is a good team and their infrastructure and planning is much more advanced than ours. We have to accept this, but our game and our technical potential is better than theirs.”

Translated by Ali K.

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