Coach of Iran's national team, Amir Ghalenoei acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming match against Hong Kong on Friday in Group C's second round of matches in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023.
In a pre-match press conference, Ghalenoei expressed his congratulations to Qatar for the great organization of the tournament, stating that it would be the best edition in its history.
Iran faced a challenging match in the first round and Friday's confrontation will be no different, he said.
Ghalenoei affirmed their readiness for the match and said that they have a good lineup of players who understand their responsibility and from the first day, they have been working to enhance harmony within the team.
The Iranian team will handle each match as they come and are aware of the strength of Hong Kong's national team and its coach. The team will see some changes due to some injuries, he added.
Ghalenoei concluded his statement by expressing his happiness with Qatar's qualification for the next round as it is an important feat for the team that is seeking to defend its title.
Mehdi Taremi, the Iranian national team striker, stated in the conference that beating the Palestinian national team in the first round was pivotal for his team's journey in the tournament. He added that his team is aiming to achieve another positive outcome in order to reach the final.
Taremi noted that the team's main focus is on Friday's match and all the highly qualified players are aiming to present a great performance.
Having played previously in Al Gharafa SC, Taremi highlighted Qatar's football scene and credited his experience in the Qatari club for contributing to his football career.
The three-time title winners lead their group standings with three points, with a goal difference from the United Arab Emirates national team, which has the same score. The Hong Kong and Palestine national teams place third and fourth places, respectively, with no points.
