FOOTBALL – Tony was wrong! The Polytechnic did not lack lungs on Sunday, but a clear mind. Why did Poli lose to UTA? – The Iasi newspaper

In the end, the Iași coach, Anthony “Tony” Da Silva, blamed the defeat on the lack of attitude of his students. However, the words of the Portuguese do not reflect the reality. Compared to last Wednesday’s match, in Cluj, with the University, the players from Iași struggled, ran, showed desire in many moments of the game, even if the aggression should have been greater. What the Polytechnic lacked was something else: the brain, the clear mind.

Crushing pro-Poli offensive statistics, zero clear chances

The claim is amply supported by the hosts’ offensive numbers. When you shoot 25 times at the opponent’s goal and you practically do not have an important opportunity, it is clear that lucidity was lacking. When 14 of the 25 shots are blocked (!!!) and only four are on goal (the opponent also had four, but only from nine attempts), and the score is 0-2, it is clear that lucidity was lacking. When you have ten corners, twice as many as UTA, and plenty of other crosses, and you fail to create any clear scoring opportunities, it’s clear that lucidity has been lacking.

Dust protection

If the lack of effectiveness canceled the possibility of obtaining victory, the defeat was generated by the lamentable performance of the defense, which also lacked lucidity. Failing to even hold the line, often overcome in simple duels, even ridiculed at times, the defense formed by Todoroski, Bouhenna, Ilie and Ispas, all – very modest, was easy prey for an Arada team that had three midfielders under 21 at the start for years and who taught a harsh lesson to Iași..

Dominated, sometimes clearly, for almost an hour, UTA was lethal when it started to play, playing the counterattack card perfectly. Taking advantage of the large spaces that opened up in the Iași defense, the guests had four very dangerous counters, three shots on goal and two goals. Lesson in efficiency!

The changes broke up the match

This was also generated by the inspiration of coach Mircea Rednic, whose moves had strong effects. Ezekiel scored seven minutes after coming on, the second goal was initiated by half-time substitute Tick, with Trif, Stahl and Ariel Lopez also coming on.

In contrast, Tony’s moves were disastrous. Allanzinho brought nothing, Kabran and Jatoba, introduced in place of the assets Bettaieb and Marchioni, were dust, and Harrison did not catch a good day.

Misconception

Last but not least, the failure can also be attributed to a harmful concept existing at Poli since the time of the former coach, Leo Grozavu. Who, like Tony, said that for him the draw meant nothing, only victory mattered. However, the fall of Iași in the last half hour and, implicitly, the defeat, was generated precisely by the suicidal game, fully blown, easy prey for a “fox” like Rednic.

And those who do not agree with the idea that attacking victory in any game is a harmful concept, should imagine where Poli was now with a draw on Sunday and draws in the other games lost on the limit in the play-out, in Galati , Botoșani, Dinamo and Cluj…