Hashemnejad:
I’m Confident the National Team Will Deliver
Tractor SC winger expressed his gratitude and excitement after receiving his first call-up to Team Melli.
Mehdi Hashemnejad, a promising young winger from Tractor FC, has joined Team Melli's training camp under the supervision of head coach Amir Ghalenoei.
In an interview with the national team’s media, Hashemnejad said:
“First of all, I want to thank the coaching staff—especially Mr. Ghalenoei—for trusting me. I’ll do my best in training, and if I get the chance to play, I hope to prove I’m worthy of this opportunity. It’s great to see that the national team staff closely follows the league and rewards players who perform well. That motivates all of us and raises the quality of competition in the league.”
Commenting on the team atmosphere, he added:
“Honestly, I didn’t expect such a positive environment. The experienced players are incredibly supportive, and training sessions are serious and professional. The camp has a friendly tone off the field, but we work with full intensity. I’m sure this team can achieve excellent results.”
Regarding his chances of making the final squad, Hashemnejad stated:
“Everyone here is among the best in the country. I’m fully focused on executing the coaches’ instructions, both technically and tactically, to do my part for the team.”
On sharing the pitch with established national team players for the first time, he said:
“I’ve always followed Team Melli matches and now I’m training alongside those very players. It’s a blessing. I’ve never had one particular role model—I admire all of them.”
Hashemnejad also spoke about working under Coach Ghalenoei:
“Coach Ghalenoei is undoubtedly one of the best in Iran. He’s very serious in training but also supportive, especially with younger players. He makes it easier for us to adapt to the national team environment.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming qualifiers against Qatar and North Korea, he noted:
“Both are strong teams. We haven’t fully analyzed them yet, but we have a basic understanding. Even though we’ve already qualified, Coach Ghalenoei insists that every national match matters. If I make the final squad, I’ll give everything I have to help the team. These games also impact our seeding for the World Cup.”
In closing, he emphasized the importance of preparation:
“To perform well at the World Cup, we need strong friendlies against top teams. Coach Ghalenoei understands this better than anyone and has already made plans. If we stay on this path, I’m confident we can succeed on the world stage.”
