Las Palmas midfielder blames the 18 HOURS RETURN JOURNEY AFTER PLAYING FOR TEAM MELLI
Team Melli’s midfielder Masoud Shojaei complained about what he referred to as “ten days of training to play a single game!” and the differences of style and training regime between country and club (Team Melli and UD Las Palmas ) . “The training sessions we conducted back home were all in the afternoon with a football style more direct and physical than I am used to, while on return to Gran Canaria it is completely different style & ENVIROMENT hence it is sometimes difficult to adapt “. Shojaei, however, admitted that as a “professional football player“ he must adapt to such differences and make the necessary adjustments.
Masoud Shojaei has acknowledged that he played last Sunday “one of the worst games of his life”. The UD Las Palmas midfielder was referring to the match against Real Murcia which ended goalless despite the visitors were a man short from the 25th minute.
The Iranian international explained the possible reasons for his poor form. “ I did not feel comfortable , but I assure everyone that I will play a lot better. Perhaps it was the long journey of nearly 18 hours after playing for Iran and the different mentality and tactics used by Team Melli under coach Carlos Queiroz .
Masoud was complaining of the ten days training camp to play a single game! Practicing in the afternoons, with a football style more direct and physical. “There is no hiding that UD should improve in the finishing and next Sunday the team has a good chance in Gijon , against Sporting “ Masoud said about the next match. “We can win that match.” Masoud believes that ” not much difference exists between teams from the Liga Adelante, but how you play the Asturian team , very different from the last opponent, but admits it will be ” a difficult game ” .
Masoud Shojaei , had a dreadful season in which he had great difficulty reaching form since he recovered from his long term injury. Despite all the weak performances, Queiroz obstinately insisted on including him in the squad and going one better by playing the Midfielder as a fix starter to the detriment of other much better and in form players. For his poor form displayed in all of Team Melli matches, the fans in Azadi singled him out for boos and shouting vulgarities while demanding his exclusion from Team Melli. While Carlos Queiroz is the accountable person for consistently allowing an under-performing player with fitness and form issues to play, the coach was hardly questioned about his reasons, leaving the player getting the wrath of the fans.
Carlos Queiroz , who time and again has shown little tolerance for any criticism from the press & media, he has been even less tolerance for complaining players. After standing by the lackluster Shojaei , as it seemed that he (Queiroz) was the only one believing that shojaei is capable to deliver while the ex-Osasuna player never reproduced any of his pervious form in TeamMelli games, it will be interesting to see the reaction of the Portuguese coach on reading this short interview and the complaints by Shojaei.
Will he join Rahmati and Aghili in his black book or not is interesting for many observers.