Pitso On Esteghlal Woes: I Don’t Crumble Under Pressure

Esteghlal FC coach Pitso Mosimane says he won’t crumble under pressure after his side played to a goalless draw against Malavan on Saturday, which saw their winless streak in the league stretch to six games.
The result lifted the Tehran-based outfit one place up to 10th with 19 points gathered, 16 behind log leaders Tractor, who have a game in hand and four above the drop zone after 17 matches played in the Persian Gulf Pro League.
Before the recent stalemate, Mosimane’s charges were lost to relegation candidates Shams Azar, prompting their fans to whistle against the team. With prolonged adversity, the South African mentor faces an uphill battle to turn things around.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly tactician insists the underwhelming results are part of a process the club has to go through. However, the 60-year-old is optimistic that the tide will turn for the Capital Blues in the long run during the project.
“Yes, we came to play and win [vs Malavan] but it’s not easy to win. It’s where we are as a club, it’s a difficult situation but it’s not good for our supporters because they want us to win,” Mosimane said in a fiery post-match conference.
“We have to accept what we’ve been going through in terms of personalities and players; we’ll get better and it’s not encouraging yes but I like that they [players] came to fight and never gave up. And sometimes when it’s like this you ask for luck – which we don’t have.
“It’s easy for people not to support us when it’s difficult because we are not winning, I understand. But we are going through a process, we have to go through it until we have everybody back and fit then we can have a big fight. Unfortunately, we’re in a difficult process now, my players and I feel it.”
Despite performances indicating that the nine-time Iranian champions will finish the campaign outside of the top three for the first time since the 2014/15 season, Mosimane is adamant he won’t buckle under pressure.
“We are a good team, we are just going through a lot of injuries, and other players are not registered. It’s a process, we have to go through it, and it’s either you become emotional, lack resistance to accept the pressure, and crumble – I don’t crumble,” he asserted.
Esteghlal will be desperate to get back to winning ways to close in on the top half of the table when they welcome fellow strugglers Esteghlal Khuzestan at Azadi Sports Complex in their next league outing on Thursday.