Iran must persevere, urges national team supervisor

AFC - Iran national team supervisor Mohammad Ranjbar has urged the side not to rest on its laurels after their Asian Games victory in Busan last month.

"We must not go to sleep or become proud because we won in Busan," said Ranjbar. "We are at the beginning of the road.

"We must prepare our young players for tougher matches and tournaments. In the last session we held, it was decided that the national team program must be planned in such a way as not to interfere with the professional league.

"We will also only reply to match invitations that will work to our benefit."

Meanwhile, both the IFF and Ivankovic have denied rumours that the contractual marriage between both parties will not be extended.

"The rumours of me joining a club side in the Gulf is completely baseless," said Iran coach Branko Ivankovic. "I have a few months of my contract left and I won't be thinking about nothing else but doing my best in my current job."