A former Iranian player has suggested that Pitso Mosimane can only be fairly judged on his time at Esteghlal once the squad has been strengthened with key signings.
The comments come in the wake of Esteghlal's goalless draw against Chadormalou Ardakan SC in the Persian Gulf Pro League on Thursday.
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The result marked the team's third draw in their last five matches, and ex-Esteghlal star Mansour Rashidi has pointed to the need for reinforcements in attack to help the club reclaim its former glory.
The Royals are currently ninth on the league table after 14 games.
"Esteghlal definitely needs to sign a new player in the attacking line," Rashidi told Iranian news site ISNA.
Reflecting on the draw against Chadormalou, he added: "Physically, the team has improved, and they can run until the final minutes. However, they lack goal-scorers in midfield and attack, and there is still a lot of work to do."
Rashidi highlighted the challenges Mosimane has faced since taking over, noting that the South African coach had identified physical fitness as a key area for improvement from the outset.
"From day one, Mosimane said the players were physically weak. The team has problems with personnel. The attacking line is weak and needs to be strengthened," he explained.
Despite these challenges, Rashidi believes Mosimane's impact is beginning to show, but added that it may be limited due to the lack of quality in the side.
"Esteghlal's performance under Mosimane has improved compared to previous games, and the team has generally shown better coordination.
"The effort the midfielders put in is wasted when the strikers can't capitalise on it, which results in the team not scoring."
"Esteghlal has improved slightly, and in a few weeks, we can judge Mosimane's performance," Rashidi added.
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