Pitso Mosimane's ex-assistant at Esteghlal FC has pointed fingers at the controversial eight-day break taken by the South African, suggesting it contributed to the club's current injury woes.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns boss' tenure at the Iranian club came with considerable controversy, one instance being the criticism he faced for an extended break at the start of the year.
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The decision saw him return to his home country, reportedly cancelling training sessions and giving his players time off as well.
While many slammed the move, it also came at a time when Mosimane and his technical team were yet to receive their salaries from the club.
Now, his ex-assistant, Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh, has broken his silence, revealing his thoughts on the matter and linking the hiatus to the team's current fitness struggles.
"During this time, I never protested, I didn't criticize, but many people judged and I remained silent," the coach said per Varzesh3.
"Let's remember that there is a reason for all these injured players. Unfortunately, we lost half of the season with the previous coaching staff.
"I stopped myself, because Mosimane was there for three or four months and we lived together, but for eight days in the half-season and on the days when other teams camped, they worked, they tried, we rested."
Esteghlal have endured a season plagued by injuries, and Bakhtiarizadeh believes the lack of mid-season training played a major role.
"I'm saying this now. I'm with a team that hasn't trained and its players get injured with the slightest pressure. This is one of the problems I've had during this time.
"Many people look from the outside and easily say that a certain player should play, or which player to replace, when it's not [that] easy."
When asked why he did not advise Mosimane against the break, Bakhtiarizadeh pointed to his position within the hierarchy.
"First of all, Mr. Mosimane had two or three assistants," he continued.
"There were also two other assistants who did both coaching and analysis. I was the third or fourth at most!
"Think for yourself whether the head coach takes more advice from his first and second assistants, who have been working with him for 10 years, or from the third one?"
" If I had said that day that eight days of rest was wrong, which eventually turned into 10, 12 days, the media themselves would have said that Sohrab would destroy Mosimane," he added.
"I had to remain silent, but I saw these days. I am a patient person, but the moon does not stay behind the clouds."
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