Winfried Schaefer calls on fans to support Esteghlal against Al Rayyan

PLDC - Esteghlal coach Winfried Schaefer has called on the club's supporters to stand behind the team for the match against Al Rayyan. 

Esteghlal will host Al Rayyan of Qatar in Group D of the AFC Champions League in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on Monday.

Victory for either Esteghlal or Al Rayyan would secure their passage into the knockout stage with a game to spare.

“It’s a vital match for us and we need our fans. We want our fans to be behind us in this moment,” the German coach said in the pre-match news conference.

“The fans really can be a 12th man when they are needed to be. I hope we earn three points against the Qatari team,” Schaefer added.

Mame Thiam is not completely fit and we will not risk aggravating the problem, Schaefer concluded.