Hiddink: Ghotbi Can Lead Iran To Victory At Asian Cup

GOAL.com –  ANKARA, Turkey coach Guus Hiddink has tipped Iran for the 2011 Asian Cup.

Talking to Goal.com, the experienced Dutchman believes that under Afshin Ghotbi, part of his 2002 World Cup coaching staff with South Korea, Team Melli have the right plans in place to achieve success in Qatar in 2011. Hiddink supports the idea that Iran will play friendly matches this summer in Europe.

“Iran will have a training camp in Austria.That is a good choice. The temperature is good in the Austrian mountains for having good training sessions and apart from that, many other good European teams are there at the same time,” Hiddink told Goal.com.

“I think it is crucial for Iranian football that they look for strong opponents in their preparations for the Asian Cup. I did the same with Korea in 2002. The Korean Federation wanted to play weak opponents in the months before the World cup.  They were afraid to lose. They thought that their confidence would grow playing weaker opponents. With respect to all teams, but you don’t gain confidence from playing these friendly matches.

Ghotbi’s Training Plans Look Good Says Hiddink

“So I organized matches versus England and France, top football countries and we all know the outcome of this approach for Korea during World cup 2002. The team can only learn from playing tough friendly matches. In a preparation stage it is not bad to lose against strong opponents as long as the team learns from it.”

“Ghotbi has that experience because he has been among top teams at three World Cups. In 1998 with the USA, in 2002 under my command with Korea and in Germany in 2006 he was assistant under Dick Advocaat with the Korean National team. With this package as a head coach Ghotbi has a big goal and that is to win the Asian Cup with Iran. When the organization around the team is on top-level, I have strong confidence that Iran can achieve this dream.”

Hiddink, who has coached the likes of Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven and Chelsea, is now in the Turkey hotseat and sees some similarities in the football culture with Iran.

“I think the way people ‘live’ football in Turkey is about the same in Iran. The football cultures have much in common and Ghotbi understands as an Iranian how huge and important the Asian Cup is, being very passionate about it and at the same time he has the qualities and abilities to manage the team with an international coaching standard that you need when you play big tournaments like the Asian Cup.”