Iran team needs help, Ghotbi says

MNA – TEHRAN, Iran football coach Afshin Ghotbi said that his team needs full support in order to end the squad’s 35 year title drought in the Asian Cup.

“Iran has not won the Asian Cup championship title since 1976, and we are going to put an end to this in January 2011 in Doha. I believe that the Iranian people are our 12th player, and the media the 13th,” Ghotbi said in a news conference on Tuesday.

After criticizing the Iranian media over attacking the national team, Ghotbi continued, “I feel really sorry for some reporters who criticize the national football team because their favorite players have no place in the line up. We have to be professional and change our viewpoints. Iran needs help to get good results in the AFC Asian Cup.”

“Iran will participate in a training camp in Austria from July 11 to 24. We will also take part in another training camp ahead of the Asian Cup. Iran will play four friendlies in the camp,” he added.