Interim Persepolis Boss Abdi Determined To Make Up For Saudi Setback

AFC – TEHRAN, Group A leaders Persepolis will have to overcome the absence of suspended duo Mohsen Bengar and Mohammad Noori, who have contributed three of the four goals scored by the Iranian club in the 2015 AFC Champions League so far, when they take on Saudi Arabian champions Al Nassr on Wednesday.

Last month, goals from Poland midfielder Adrian Mierzejewski, Fabian Estoyanoff and Hassan Al Raheb saw Al Nassr hand Persepolis a 3-0 drubbing in their first defeat of the continental campaign after back-to-back wins over Bunyodkor and Qatari champions Lekhwiya.

And with Persepolis currently ninth in the Iran league, coach Hamid Derakhshan resigned on Sunday with assistant Hossein Abdi named as his interim successor and in charge for the return meeting with Al Nassr at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.

“We have a very tough match tomorrow against Saudi Arabia’s league leader,” said Abdi.

“We shouldn’t have conceded three times in the first leg, if we scored first we could have won that game but tomorrow we want to make things up.

“I promise my players will do everything they can to take a good result. I have talked with my players and they know how important this game is for us. We have Plan A and B for this match, we won’t defend or attack in the whole 90 minutes but we will do whatever it takes to win this game.”

Despite the absence of defender Bengar and midfielder Noori, the hosts have been boosted by the news that Brazilian midfielder Fernando Gabriel, who missed the first tie against Al Nassr with injury, has been declared fit by the interim coach.

Abdi’s opposite number Jorge Da Silva, meanwhile, is under no illusions that Persepolis will be anything but a difficult test for his side in spite of their absences on the field and in the dugout.

“We know we face a strong team, they have big players. Even though we beat them 3-0 at home, we won’t underestimate them and will try our best,” said Da Silva.

“I know Persepolis manager Hamid Derakhshan has parted company with the club just before this game, but I believe they will still try to display their best performance while we also try our best to get a good result.

“In our group all teams are at the same level albeit we lost our first two games while no one believed we could thrash Persepolis. We are in a good form and we are here to take the three points.”