Ebrahimzadeh’s eyes on the prize

AFC – ESFAHAN, Zob Ahan coach, Mansour Ebrahimzadeh has his eye on the ultimate prize as he prepares his side to face Al Hilal in the first leg of the AFC Champions League semi-final at the Foolad Shahr Stadium.

The Iranian league leaders host the Saudi double-winners in Esfahan aiming to emulate their city rivals Sepahan, who reached the 2007 final.

“Al Hilal are Asia’s most professional club and will certainly use all their strengths (against us), but I want to stay in this competition and play in the final in Japan,” said Ebrahimzadeh (pictured).

“We want to be there until the final and qualify for the FIFA World Club Cup.
“Please don’t be worried,” he added.

“Why are you always worried? We’re going to put everything we’ve got into achieving what I’ve just talked about.

“What’s important is that we do our best to achieve this. Many people didn’t think we’d beat (defending champions) Pohang Steelers (in the quarter-finals).”

However Zob Ahan, who lead the Iran Pro League by two points after nine matches, will be without dangerous forward Mahdi Rajabzadeh, who has scored five goals in the AFC Champions League this season, four of them for Mes Kerman before his summer move to his new side.

Rajabzadeh is suspended after a late sending off in the second leg against Pohang, whom Zob Ahan overcame 2-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in Korea, with the prolific Mohammad Reza Khalatbari taking full advantage of his one clear opportunity 10 minutes from time after Kim Jae-sung had given the hosts an early lead at the Steelyard.

Central defender Farshid Talebi is also a doubt after picking up a knock in last week’s goalless draw with Rah Ahan in the league.

The pressure is on Zob Ahan to make the most of home advantage against Al Hilal, who have not won away in the AFC Champions League all season but who have a seven-year unbeaten record at home in continental football.

Ebrahimzadeh, who is a native of Esfahan, was keen to point out that Zob Ahan are not just playing for their own fans inside the Foolad Shahr Stadium.

“We want to be an excellent representative of Iranian football and I hope that, in the end, we’ll give a gift of happiness to the Iranian people and achieve our ambitious aim,” he concluded.