Romania - Liga 1 - U Cluj vs FC Timisoara

Universitatea Cluj

Coach Ionut Badea declared that despite the good results in recent games, the objective of his team is still ranking on places 8-12. „You can never know how much our invincibility will last, what does matter is to play well and have results. Being closer to Europe League is a result of our efforts but the objective has not changed. These results can be the starting point for the next season, it is important to always want more. I wouldn’t mind qualifying in Europe fromthe 5th or 6th place although that would mean that the preliminaires would begin earlier.”

Former player at FC Timisoara and goalkeeper for Universitatea Cluj, Mariu Popa has nominated Zicu and Zagrean as the most dangerous players from the opposite team:” It is an advantage for us that Pantelimon is not going to play and I hope we will be able to exploit this to the maximum. I hope he will recover soon and come back on the court. If they are good, then they should win the championship, but why shouldn’t we rank high in the charts? They have dangerous players like Zicu, Zagrean but we have our players too.”

Probable team: M.Popa - Ungurusan, Abrudan, Pele, Bazzi - Cojocnean, Menassel, Adrian Cristea, Bostina - Cl.Niculescu, Machado; Coach: Ionut Badea; Injured: Szilagyi; Suspended: -;Substitutes: Bosneag, Balde, Delgado, Pacurar, Voican, Buhus, Tony

A victory against Poli on Wednesday, at Medias, could bring back the hopes for a place in Europa League, however the players are very cautious. Quarterback Ungurusan declared „ It is pretty hard to catch the european cups this season as they are very few games to play, but we will do our best to obtain the maximum of points in the last six stages. It would be somthing special to get in Europe this year but our main purpose is still ranking on the 8-12 places. The fact is that tha last results reflect the true value of the team.” He is also convinced that next year Universitatea will have bigger plans.”With a new stadium and our old supporters, it is obvious that we will aim for a place in the European League.

Universitatea defetead Victoria Branesti, score 2-0 getting even for the defeat in the first part of the championship. This victory means that they managed to avoid relegation and will still perform in Liga 1 next season. Ionut Badea’s team has 38 points, only 12 points away from the 15th place. Mathematical, in order to be saved, Universitatea still needs 2 victories, but even if they lose in the last 6 stages, they could still be carefree. The remaining objective concerns finishing the season in front of its rivale, CFR Cluj. This is why the team has to play to win, especially since after the match with Branesti, the players are more relaxed and with a high morale. In the first part of the championship, Universitatea managed to make a semi-surprises and hopes to do the same now, or why not to obtain a victory.

FC Timisoara

Coach Dusan Uhrin announced in a press conference that although the objectives stated at first were others, now the team wants the title and announces changes begining with the next game against Cluj. „At first we had other objectives, but now I can say that all of us want the title, and who does not want this, doesn’t belong here. We have a big chance of wining but there is no garantee for this, that’s how it is in sports. Other 6 teams want the same thing as us, we have to fighno matter what happens. Maybe we don’t play well but show me a team that does, I consider that if we fight till the last stage, tha would be excellt for us.”

The czech is ready to give a chance to the substitutes as well:” I think the players will realise the importance of this games and will asume the objectives. It’s up to them to ensure themselves a place in the team, if they play well they will remain at the team, if not, they will leave. Nobody knows what will happen, maybe nobody will leave, or maybe 10 will leave, what is certain is that comparing with the last match, 3 or 4 changes will be made in the first eleven. We have to change something, and also the players who don’t play constant need a chance and this is a good time to clarify their qualities." 

First team goal keeper, Costel Pantilimon, was injured badly in the last encounter with Targu-Mures needing 8 stiches for a wound near his left eye and will be sidelined for 2-3 weeks. „Guliver’s” replacement in the game against Cluj is going to be Pedro Taborda. His contract expires in 6 stages and the Portuguese is decided not to extend the it.

Probable team: Taborda - Luchin, Cisovsky, Ghionea, Sepsi - Alexa, Bourceanu - Curtean, Zicu, Goga – Magera; Coach: Dusan Uhrin Jr.; Injured: Mansour, Pantelimon; Suspended: -; Substitutes: Lepmets, Burca, Scutaru, Axente, Nikolici, Rocha, Tames, Ricketts, Zagrean

FC Timisoara has let down its supporters once again, it didn’t manage to defeat FCM Tg-Mures (score 0-0). They dominated the game but didn’t succeed in creating opportunities for goals and besides that they had bad luck as well, Zicu waisted a kick from 11m in the 90th minute. Uhrin’s team missed the opportunity of becoming the leader, especially as Otelu didn’t win at Bistrita and Vaslui lost at Cluj. Timisoara’s objective si to win those 3 points in order to continue the fight for the title.

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