Tehran  - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday compared his cabinet with a football team and said that, as with football, the coach must replace the players from time to time.

Ahmadinejad has been criticized widely for constant changes in his cabinet with his legal deputy and interior minister the latest ones having been sacked.

"It is like in football. A coach decides who can play better in what post, and it is natural that the replaced players get angry," Ahmadinejad told reporters after a cabinet session in Tehran.

He was referring to former Economic Minister Davoud Danesh-Jafari who had after his resignation criticized the president's economic policies and termed him as "unpredictable."

"Changes and replacements are natural and should not be turned into taboos," Ahmadinejad added.

Opponents of Ahmadinejad, who are no longer only from reformist camps but also within the conservative factions, constantly blame the president to have an ideological rather than technical approach towards formation of his cabinet.

He has also drawn criticism for not referring to experts' opinions, especially with regard to the economy, currently one of the main challenges facing Ahmadinejad after inflation rates ranging from 20 to 30 per cent have further increased following the new Persian year (March 21). (dpa)