Politehnica Timisoara will play on Sunday in the second round of the second league play-out. The opponent will be FK Csikszereda Miercurea Ciuc, and the match will be played at the Știința stadium, from 11 am.

The match will represent the return of former international Paul Codrea to the Politehnica bench. The Timisoara club has terminated the contracts of attacking midfielders Daniel Benzar and Luka Stojanovic. Ignea is injured and Bîrnoi is suspended.

In the Group A standings, Poli are in 7th place, last with 13 points, and FK Csikszereda are in 2nd place with 29 points.

In the last match of the autumn season, Poli defeated the Harghiteni, 2-1, also at the stadium in the Faculty of Mechanics’ yard.

Statements from today’s press conference:

Paul Codrea, Politehnica coach: “I have gained experience, I have always been involved in the club for the last three years. I helped from all positions and I’m doing the same now. I came at a complicated time, but I’m not scared of that, I came with a positive attitude and I hope to pass that on to the team.

Tavi had our support. He was allowed to work with the squad he managed to put together with the old management. We supported him as much as we could. We came late in the market period, there was no time for transfers. We only brought in Tudor Călin, who turned out to be a very good transfer. And Tavi worked with his lot. Unfortunately the results didn’t help him, we know very well that every coach needs some positive results. And the decision to terminate the contract was his, not ours.

My strategy is to put the best team on the field, I don’t think it’s good for the kids to throw them all in at once, the kids who deserve it and are the most promising will come in. I will certainly help make that transition, but gradually, I won’t be able to play tomorrow with 11 juniors and risk making a fool of myself. The juniors who are good and are ready, who I think are ready and can handle it, will play.

I’m certainly not resigned. I’m certainly still hoping, I’m hoping for that small chance, that’s what I told the team. 1, 2, 5, 10, it doesn’t matter how much it is, the important thing is to keep it alive as long as possible and maybe it does happen. Now people are fed up with words, promises, we know very well where we are. But I really believe that we will look better. At least I am convinced that we will try to play attractive football.

I’m curious to see more of my team at work, I want to see if what I’ve prepared will come across on the pitch. We know that the opponent is valuable, there’s no point in analysing it, they have set off with other objectives. They haven’t achieved their objective either, but I’m interested in my team.

Alin Ignea will also be missing and Luka Stojanovic has terminated his contract. We have a few absences, but there will be 11 of us on the pitch, six on the bench, so those who come in must show that they deserve to play for Poli.

Benzar has also terminated his contract. Because he was injured.

Ignea is injured, but will be back next week, this week he tried to do, but he felt a pain and will be in in a week.

Stojanovic was not injured, it was his wish, I understand he also has a young child. He wanted to stay at home, he also understood that the club’s policy was changing. We didn’t achieve our goal, there was no point in continuing, especially as he was under contract until the summer… We believe in it (the goal), but we also want to make the generational change. Let’s achieve our objective with our players, Luka had a high enough salary for our squad and we also made savings and he’s satisfied, he got his money up to date.

We have 22 players, that many were in training today. Next year we will probably go for the academy, everybody was talking about the academy, but I see that very few of them played. We want more from the Academy to play and that’s the plan.

Gologan has an uncertain situation. He came and asked for a discussion, said he was having a hard time and got a rest.

Huminic is getting better and better, he’ll probably be fit in the summer. He’s training now, but still separately.”

Marian Târșa, Politehnica player: “Unfortunately for me it’s my first official starting match and I want to enjoy football first of all. Really the situation now is quite difficult. I haven’t lost hope either that we can get good results in the last matches. I want us to put in a good performance, to show the supporters that we are not that team in the standings. Let’s enjoy football and show that on the pitch. In the end that’s what matters most.

I have to show on the field that I deserve it and help the team, that’s the most important thing.

(n.r. – about the new coach) Personal advice, we haven’t had a chance to talk, as long as he comes on the pitch and shows us some things that happen in the game, I think that’s enough, especially since he’s next to a great footballer of Romania, Mr Rotariu. Things are shown on the pitch. What we do in training is enough.

Since I did my junior training in Iasi, it’s a city that is similar in terms of culture and … I adapted well, I like the team and I was pleasantly surprised. I had never been to the Politehnica base, I was also talking to Mister, I was really pleasantly surprised. I feel very good, but I’m sorry for the situation we’re in, I’m sure we don’t deserve to be in this place, but in the end we have to show it on the pitch. There are five games to go, I hope we can make a good impression, play football…”

Paul Codrea: “I’m glad to have discovered Marian, I like the way he trains, I like the way he pulls the group after him. There are a lot of young players in training, he is one of the experienced players, even though he is 25 years old, but still he played at a very good level and only injuries prevented him from having a great career. But it’s also a springboard for him for Poli Timisoara and that’s what I told them in these five matches, to be motivated and in these five matches each one to show and give their best, because only for them they do it and for them it will be beneficial. And for us collaterally, but also for them first of all, if they want to go to better teams or get bigger contracts they have to play well here, now, this is the time”