Persepolis hungry for third successive title: Branko Ivankovic

Tehran Times – TEHRAN, Persepolis football team coach Branko Ivankovic says that they want to claim Iran Professional League (IPL) title for the third successive year.

Persepolis won the IPL title with three games to spare on Sunday after beating Padideh 1-0 in Mashhad’s Samen Stadium.

Persepolis claimed the title for the second successive year.

Branko Ivankovic’s team could have won the title in the 2015-16 Season but became runners-up due to inferior goal difference to Esteghlal Khuzestan.

Ivankovic led Persepolis to 10th title last season with three games to spare and repeated the title in 2017-18 Season.

Now, the Croat is confident they could win the IPL title for the third time in a row.

“We are not allowed to sign player in the summer transfer windows but I think the all players we want to stay with us will extend their contracts with Persepolis,” Ivankovic said.

“There is no player surplus to requirement for upcoming season. Persepolis have potential to win the title for the third successive year. We’ve shown our quality in the previous editions. Of course, we know that it will be a difficult task to defend your title,” he added.

“We’re a better team than we were last year. Now, we’ve qualified for the AFC Champions League knockout stage with one game remaining. Persepolis also won the IPL title easier than the last season,”

Persepolis will face Pars Jonoubi on Wednesday in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.