Esteghlal boss Andrea Stramaccioni had his Gattuso-Trapattoni-Malesani moment as he accused the Iranian club of ‘cutting off his translator’ in a rant.
Stramaccioni was only appointed Esteghlal boss in June, but already there have been fears he could walk out on the club, amidst disagreements over transfer strategy.
The 43-year-old stayed to oversee their opening League game of the new season, but he let rip after having watched them lose 1-0 to Machine Sazi.
Esteghlal boss Andrea Stramaccioni had his Gattuso-Trapattoni-Malesani moment as he accused the Iranian club of ‘cutting off his translator’ in a rant.
Stramaccioni was only appointed Esteghlal boss in June, but already there have been fears he could walk out on the club, amidst disagreements over transfer strategy.
The 43-year-old stayed to oversee their opening League game of the new season, but he let rip after having watched them lose 1-0 to Machine Sazi.
“This is no respect. About the game, about the game, it’s very easy,” said the former Inter and Udinese boss in broken English.
“We started very badly, Machine started better than us. They have a big chance, but in the first minute, second minute, I don’t remember.
“Hosseini [Esteghlal’s goalkeeper] made very good saves. Then we play, we had a good reaction, we had chances, we tried to score.
“In the second half, Machine never went beyond the midfield. But, unfortunately, from our mistake, 1-0.
“We didn’t deserve to lose. I didn’t like the behaviour of some players who started, and this is something we can avoid, but this is football.
“If the referee is good, for us it’s good. About me, it’s two months full of problems. I will not give up, but what’s happened today is no respect for me, for my profession.
“[That is] because if you come in Italy and you make first game and they cut off your translator, what is this, sabotage?
“But I will not give up. I will stay here for the fans because they are very good at Esteghlal, fantastic fans, and this is no respect.
“Congratulations to Machine Sazi and this is over. Thank you very much.”
Strama’s outburst has already been likened to those of Gennaro Gattuso at OFI Crete, Giovanni Trapattoni at Bayern Munich and Alberto Malesani at Panathinaikos.
When an Italian coaches in Iranian league. pic.twitter.com/FHSvfgg5DW
— Mehryar (@Mehryar10) August 23, 2019