Politehnica Timisoara will play on Good Friday in the 4th round of the second league play-out. The opponent will be CSC Șelimbăr, and the match will be played at the Știința stadium, from 11 am.

The only unavailable players are Bocșan (injured) and Huminic (recovering). Bocșan had surgery on his collarbone and will miss two to three months, so this season is over for him. There are no suspended players.

In the Group A standings, Poli is in 7th place, last with 19 points, and CSC Șelimbăr is in 3rd place with 30 points. In the regular season, Șelimbărul defeated the white-violet team 4-0 in August in Rm. Vâlcea.

Statements from today’s press conference

Paul Codrea, Politehnica coach: “We are facing a very tough match, maybe the toughest so far. And because it’s the next one and probably after this match we will know exactly where we are. It’s an important stage, and the other matches, of the opponents, are important too. We have prepared well, it felt a bit tired with this trip to Slobozia, which was very long. But the boys have come through it, I hope they will be as motivated tomorrow as they have been so far, and there is no reason why we shouldn’t be as motivated. Because we are in a good moment and we want to keep this mood and good form as long as possible.

Honestly I expect, people are free, I figure not everyone has left town, it’s not deserted. Even if you can tell from the traffic that a lot of people have left. Hopefully, if even now after two results we don’t manage to gather more supporters, it’s not good. I said after the Slobozia match that if we double the number of spectators, at least 1,500, I don’t think Poli in League 2 will not gather 1,500 people, I don’t want to believe that.

Bocșan, now we’ve spoken, is out of surgery. Everything went very well. It was more complicated than it seemed, it will probably take around two or three months to recover until he’s fit. The clavicle, the bone (…) in the duel with the opponent fell on his shoulder…

It stands at four yellows, so Murariu is not suspended. There are no other injured players.

We have decided to follow the same line, Mada will be on the bench as central defender, we have the option to withdraw Tudor Calin, if necessary, depending on how the game goes. We remain consistent with what we said.

This match we’ll stay like this, depending on the game we can probably change, but I don’t think it’s innovation, I just think we put the players in the positions that suit them. I can’t say I’ve innovated anything. They haven’t played before, but look at them playing. And they’ll keep playing as long as I think it’s working.

I saw the Slobozia game and the Slatina game, anyway I think that’s their style of play. A very compact team, they don’t throw a lot into the attack. They let you build and play a bit, but they’re very dangerous on the counterattack. I’m thinking they don’t change their style of play and will continue the same. They have nothing to lose, the pressure is on us. They’re basically relaxed, though, they’re sitting pretty in the standings, they don’t have any problems. They also have stability, they have also extended their contract with the coach, they are probably preparing for the new season. But as I said for the other games, it’s very important what we do, how we present ourselves. If we will be Slobozia’s team, I think we have a good chance to win.”

Cosmin Bîrnoi, Politehnica player: “Tomorrow will be a very tough match. We want to get our revenge, because they beat us 4-0 at home, undeservedly I say. Tomorrow they will also come motivated, but we are very motivated, we come after two wins, even if we went 12 hours by bus to Slobozia and we came back 12 hours by bus, we don’t have to focus on this and I am sure we will win tomorrow.

I feel very comfortable there, I can say that it’s my job, behind the top, and I think that’s where I can give the best performance.

I haven’t decided yet (n.r. – if he will stay from the summer), there are three games left and I want to be 100% connected to Poli Timisoara, maybe even five, it depends on what we will do the next games. I hope with all my heart that there will be five”