According to Mehr, Iranian national team striker Mehdi Taremi shared his thoughts following Team Melli’s victory over the UAE.
“First of all, I would like to congratulate the Iranian people on the New Year. I hope this year brings blessings and prosperity,” Taremi said. “We struggled in the first half but performed much better in the second half. Overall, I think we played well.”
Taremi then spoke about his injury concerns and the need for rest. “For the past four or five months, I have trained and played through niggling injuries. But now, I have decided to rest to avoid worsening my condition.”
Calls for Structural Improvements
Taremi emphasized the need for better planning and organization within the national team setup. “Our qualification is almost certain, but we need to improve many aspects of the team’s structure. Certain things I observed on the bench should not have happened. I am not used to be on the bench in Azadi,” he stated “and from there, I observed some awkward things that belittles the team”
Highlighting the gap between Asian and international competitions, he added: “The World Cup is a completely different level. International matches are far more challenging than Asian fixtures. In the past, we were eliminated with dignity due to minor details. But now, as we aim to progress further in the tournament, we must be much better prepared.”
Criticism of Azadi Stadium Facilities
Taremi also addressed the power outage at Azadi Stadium that disrupted the match. “I don’t know whether to call it mismanagement or something else, but those involved know that while the surface details look fine, the actual conditions are far from acceptable. The locker rooms are in terrible shape, and even the mixed zone is poorly maintained. This is an embarrassment. We have always had to deal with such issues, low standards and low quality of the surroundings” he lamented.
Expressing his frustration, he added: “I feel sorry for the officials. I honestly think that some people out there want to tarnish Iran’s image, and I feel bad for those responsible for managing these situations.”
On the Presence of the President & Economic Conditions
Taremi acknowledged the efforts of the country’s leadership: “Despite all the difficulties, the president, Dr. Pezeshkian came to support us, and I appreciate such a gesture.”
Regarding Iran’s economic situation and the weakening of the Iranian currency, he said: “When I predicted that the dollar would reach 90,000 tomans, people criticized me. Now that it has hit 100,000 tomans, they are attacking me even more.”
Future at Inter & Career Aspirations
Discussing his future at Inter Milan, Taremi reassured fans: “There’s good news. The club and the coach are aware of my injury, which is why my recent performances may not have been ideal. I know this and truly regret it. If the coach continues to trust me, I will definitely stay at Inter next season.”
When asked about signs of frustration on his face, he admitted: “Yes! I am ambitious, and this much passion can sometimes make me appear tense. I hope to fully recover from my injury this year.”
Addressing potential offers from Asia, Taremi remained focused on his European career: “I’ve received offers from Asian clubs before, and while I respect them, I haven’t seriously considered leaving Europe. My goal is to maintain my performance at the highest level.”
Taremi was an unused substitute on Thursday when Iran played the UAE. It is unclear whether the former Porto player will feature against Uzbekistan on Tuesday.