Exclusive Interview with Behrang Safari

Lagerbäck has taken Sweden to the last four championships and is now on the verge of a fifth consecutive championship. Talking to Moula he said, "Safari is a talented player with great potential. He's not good enough yet for the national team but he's just started playing left back and you have to have some patience. He's still very young and is getting better with time".

Safari's own coach in Malmö, Sören Åkeby talking to Moula said, "Safari is a fantastic footballer. He is getting better with each game and whenever he puts the team into trouble he clears it out himself. There are still a few Swedish left backs that are better than him but give him some time and he will be there among the very best. What he really can improve is his positioning".

A chat with Safari himself
NaveedM: Behrang, I talked to Lagerbäck and he praised your talent but said he is not yet considering you for the left back position in the national team, what do you think of that?
Safari: It sounds promising; he is right about what he says. You have to have in mind it's my first season as left back.

NaveedM: How good do you think you are? How much do you have left for being picked for the national team?
Safari: I'm good, but I can't say I'm "king" yet. Compared to the left backs in the national team I lack some experience. I wouldn't want to say that they are better than me though.

NaveedM: How good can you become?
Safari: I hope world class. I'd like to play in a better league in Europe. Juventus is still my favorite team…

NaveedM: You have played as left forward in 4-3-3, as left wing in different formations and now you play left back in a back four. Which is your best position?
Safari: I'd like to say left back. I have grown into the position and my offensive skills are a great asset to the team. I also have great speed which is good in offense but also in defense when defending one-on-one.

NaveedM: What instructions do you have currently in left back?
Safari: I can go forward a lot and don't have to kill myself running back but will get help from the left wing and from the right back. Whenever the right back goes I have to stay and move in to the centre, building a temporary three back. The positioning is the most difficult part of playing at the back. Being able to cover behind the central defenders, keeping the line and not falling below it are other difficult parts. Going forward is of course the most fun task.

NaveedM: How big advantage is it being left footed considering the lack of left footers?
Safari: Sure it's a great advantage since I play on the wing. Specially when I get past the defenders and can cross the ball.

NaveedM: When I talked to you the last time you said you feel like a foreigner in your own country, has this changed now that you have been a regular for a while in one of the best teams in Sweden?
Safari: No not at all, it's not on the pitch I feel this way but off it.

NaveedM: If you would get a call up to the Iranian national team right now would you accept it? How much have you seen them playing?
Safari: It's a difficult question. I haven't paid too much attention to it and have to take such decisions whenever facing them. Of course I saw the World Cup games and know about players like Daei and Karimi. Honestly though I don't know that much more.

NaveedM: Do you have an agent?
Safari: Yes it's Martin Dahlin. He calls me up after the games and gives me advices and we will work towards better leagues in Europe. I look forward though to keep playing in Sweden and developing further.

NaveedM: What do you think of Zlatan Ibrahimovic?
Safari: He's the king. The worlds best player!

NaveedM: Thank You for your time and good luck in the future!

Naveed Moula also had a small chat with the most respected sports writer in Sweden, Simon Bank. He talked about Safari and said, "he's pretty far from the national team right now but I like him a lot. He's still young and developing for each game. He fast, likes to go forward and has great crosses. Why not a future national team player? I think though he's closer to the Iranian national team right now than the Swedish. He needs to become better in defense, specially the positioning".

In today's starting lineup next to Safari, players like Jonatan Johansson, Daniel Andersson, Anders Andersson, Yksel Osmanovski and Ola Toivonen played. Johansson has 68 caps for Finland and have played for Charlton in the English Premiership for five seasons. Daniel Andersson has 54 caps for Sweden, played in four different Serie A clubs and played 30 minutes in the last European qualifying game for Sweden. Anders Andersson has 27 caps for Sweden and has played for Blackburn and Benfica among other European clubs. Osmanovski has 14 caps for Sweden and has played for Bari, Torino and Bordeaux in Europe. Ola Toivonen is one of the biggest prospects in Swedish football and is currently a part of the u-21 team. Not having mentioned two of the biggest stars in the team the Brazilian Junior and the Swedish Skoog.

Here is Iransportspress.com interview with Behrang Safari back in 2004. Click here to read.