Politehnica Timisoara has entered the home straight to prepare for the final duel for access to League 2. The first battle will be away, in two days, at CSM Olimpia Satu Mare, who eliminated Minerul Lupeni in the semi-finals (2-2 home, 4-0 away!).

“It’s a very important week, in fact like all the others in recent times, which have been just as important, maybe this one is more important because it’s a final after all. All the trainings went according to plan, we trained well, the boys are responding very well to the trainings, we are in a period where we have to manage to get them back physically as well, because they still played 120 minutes in Baia Mare and it was a very long way back, we have to take every aspect into account. But, overall, I am satisfied with how the boys’ training is going“, said Cristian Gălan, head coach of Politehnicii Timisoara.

The Alb-violets booked their tickets for the promotion play-off final after a 7-6 penalty shootout with Minaur Baia Mare, after the results in the two legs were mirror images (1-2 at home, 2-1 for Poli away – and in the two extra overtime periods in jud. Maramureș no goals were scored). Enthusiasm in the young Polista camp was at an all-time high following the dramatic qualification.

“I don’t think I have to play that role now, because they are all aware of the games we are about to have, they are all aware that they can write a very important piece of history. Because it would probably be one of the youngest teams of Politehnica to be promoted to a higher echelon, even League 2, and then I don’t think I have to intervene to make them responsible because they have to be very responsible for this,” said Cristi Gălan.

Both teams came back in the semifinals from 0-2 down during the first leg. “The semi-finals showed us that there is no clear favorite for promotion in this format. Because not only in our series but also in the other series, in the other series’ cross-over there were very balanced matches with some surprises. But what remains after these semi-final play-offs, the fact that we have qualified further and from here on we can write a new chapter in history“, concluded the coach of the White-Violets.

There is already a special emulation around Saturday’s game. The CSM Olimpia – Politehnica duel is also the only play-off final to be broadcast on a national channel: “We are very happy to be in this position, which means being on a major TV channel that broadcasts all the matches, being in the center of attention of the people in the city. Because I said this some time ago: basically the city has kind of forgotten about Poli and in these moments we feel that a fantastic emulation has been created and people have started to support Poli again and I hope that this is not just because we have reached a higher phase of the competition but because they have rediscovered their love for Poli and have perhaps identified with certain players in the group or are very happy about what is happening in the club and what the players are doing on the pitch. It is creating a kind of emulation around the team, I hope it’s like that and not just because we have access to a higher phase of the competition“.

“We are grateful for the last trip they made, to Baia Mare. We’re grateful for every game they’ve been to this season because they’ve created an incredible atmosphere. I remember even now, the penultimate leg of the winter, when we played in Cermei, where it was 10 centimeters of snow and they were in a gang so to say and there were 70-80-100 supporters who sang continuously and for our guys this really matters a lot. And, once again, I want to thank them for this, I believe that their contribution is essential in the development of our team and I think that their contribution has a great importance in the results we had!“, concluded Cristian Gălan in reference to the supporters’ support.

The match CSM Olimpia Satu Mare – Politehnica Timisoara, the second leg of the League 2 promotion play-off final, will be played on Saturday, May 31, at 16.30, at the “Olimpia – Daniel Prodan” stadium and will be broadcast live on Digi Sport 1.

The second leg is scheduled to take place in Timisoara, at the “Electrica” stadium, on Wednesday, June 4, at 17:30.