A former Manchester City star has reacted to his Man of the Match display against Pitso Mosimane's new club Esteghlal FC on Tuesday.
On Friday, 18 October, Mosimane was announced at the new head coach of Esteghlal FC, putting pen to paper on a one-year deal.
Read: Ahly boss warned against suffering same fate as Pitso
Following that big news, the Iranian outfit took on Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday evening, but they were without the South African tactician on the touchline, who officially begins his new job on Wednesday.
With the match being played in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates due to security issues in Iran, Esteghlal suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat as Al Nassr defender Aymeric Laporte scored the only goal of the game
The Spain international was named the Man of the match as his 81st minute strike was also accompanied by a clean sheet.
Speaking after the game, the 2024 UEFA European Championship winner said that conditions did not allow his side to play their best game.
"It was a difficult match, and I think the size of the pitch was small for us, and it did not allow us to play, possess and diversify the game in the way we wanted," the ex-City centre-back said, according to Almowaten.net.
"But the most important thing is that we achieved victory.
"I thank the Al Nassr fans. They travel with us a lot and we find them with us everywhere.
"We are very proud and very happy with their support and presence, and we hope to achieve victories in order to make them happy."
Read: How much Pitso's new club is paying him 'revealed'
Mosimane's Esteghlal will now shift their focus to league football on the weekend, with the former Mamelodi Sundowns boss expected to be in the dugout on Saturday when his new side takes on Kheybar.
By Lukhanyo Mtuta
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