DOHA: An Asian Cup quarter-final match-up with South Korea is something Iran coach Afshin Ghotbi wanted to avoid as the country holds a special place in his heart.
“I love the Korean people. I love the Korean players,” he said on Tuesday, hours before South Korea beat India 4-1 in their final group game to book a last-eight date on Saturday with Iran, the Group A topdogs.
“Personally I would not like to end their tournament too soon. I prefer to play them later,” Ghotbi said when asked to choose between Australia and South Korea as their quarter-final opponents.
“South Korea has, of course, great expatriates working with them,” he said in apparent reference to Europe-based stars led by Manchester United’s Park Ji-sung.
South Korea finished second to Australia in Group C on goal difference after each side won two matches and drew one.
Ghotbi, who grew up in the United States, built his global coaching career in South Korea, starting as a match analyst for Dutchman Guus Hiddink when he guided the Taeguk Warriors to the 2002 World Cup semi-finals.
He also served as an assistant coach at South Korean club Samsung Bluewings as well as the Korean national team under other Dutchmen Dick Advocaat and Pim Verbeek until 2007.
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