Peterborough’s Ryan Tafazolli on his international hopes
Promotion and Iran call-up bid
AMBITIOUS Peterborough defender Ryan Tafazolli has extra incentive to win promotion to the Championship – it could boost his international prospects.
The towering centre-back’s father Rahim hails from Iran, meaning he could play for them, if the call comes. And the Sutton-born 27-year-old reckons stepping up to English football’s second tier could be enough to tip the scales his way.
“The assistant manager, Oceano da Cruz, has come to watch me a couple of times and I would love to play for Iran,” he said. “They are ranked number one in Asia and have a very good team.
“Every footballer wants to play internationally and if I was playing in the Championship I would probably be guaranteed to get called up. It is one of the best leagues around.”
Posh are certainly in the thick of the League One promotion race. Ahead of the weekend, they were fourth, six points behind leaders Portsmouth and two behind Sunderland, who occupied the second automatic place. Third-placed Luton were ahead of them on goal difference.
Steve Evans’ men dished out some pastings early season, but have had to dig deeper to grind out results of late.
Brilliant
“We had a brilliant start to the season, but we haven’t achieved anything yet,” said Tafazolli. “Our goal is to get promoted whether that be automatic or via the play-offs.
“When you are up there, every team is going to be on their game against you. With video analysis, teams can work out opponents’ strengths and weaknesses quickly these days and try to counteract them.
“We have had to adapt the way we play a bit, but we are at our best when we do what we do and impose ourselves on games. We are unbeaten in seven (in all comps) and hopefully we can keep the momentum going.”
Those looking in from afar might fancy Portsmouth and Sunderland to go on and breeze to glory this term, but Tafazolli is convinced Posh can mix it with the two former Premier League outfits who have fanatical support.
“They have got good players, but so have we,” he stressed. “We recruited very well in the summer and have a manager who knows how to win promotion from this level. I don’t think they have more of a chance of promotion than us.”
Chance
Tafazolli played for Mansfield before Evans had a stint in charge of the Stags, but he’s more than happy to be working with the colourful boss at Peterborough now. And he reckons Evans can make the difference.
“He’s brilliant to work with,” said the defender. “He’s an unbelievable manager and he sets standards that are really high. If you fall below them, he won’t hesitate to dig you out in front of the group. You know that you have to raise your standards or you won’t play.
“People have to be 100 per cent in training and games, and live their life right – or he will be on you. It’s brilliant because it keeps everyone on their toes. It’s working for us.”
While the league is their priority, Posh would also like to make an impact in the cups this term. They won 2-0 at Exeter in the Checkatrade Trophy second round last Tuesday night to reach the last 16 and have an FA Cup second round replay at Bradford this Tuesday. They were 2-0 up in the first meeting before the struggling Bantams struck twice in the last six minutes to force a replay.
The winners go to Championship high-flyers Middlesbrough in the New Year.
Tafazolli added: “It was frustrating not to keep a clean sheet let alone concede a second one, but hopefully we can put things right in the replay.
“We have been very good away from home this season and are backing ourselves to go there and get a result. We want to test ourselves against the likes of Middlesbrough.”