A grandstand finish at the Balewadi stadium in Pune saw FC Pune City’s marquee signing Adrian Mutu open his account for the season, as the Romanian volleyed home acrobatically, to salvage a point for the home side. David Platt heaped praise on Mutu, admitting that he knew the former Fiorentina man would come good at the right time.
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It was a point earned rather than two lost, as David Platt’s side trailed for most part of the game, and the Englishman would be pleased to see his marquee signing Adrian Mutu finally get his name on the score sheet.
On why he waited until the 85th minute to bring on Tuncay Sanli
Tuncay had started the last five games in a row, and the Turkish striker could only make it to the bench this evening. However, as FC Pune City were trailing for majority of the match, one would imagine that the introduction of FC Pune City’s star man should have been sooner than the 85th minute.
The Englishman said, “Probably because we weren’t doing too badly. It is a pity that we can only have six foreign players on the pitch, so bringing on Tuncay meant I had to take off a player who was ensuring we didn’t concede a third and lose the game. It is a risk to do it early because I have a captain who knows how to control a game of football, who makes sure that tactically the team is correct, and certainly as a football coach we don’t risk things until we have to risk it.”
On playing Mutu for 90 minutes
“I don’t see it as a gamble. Everybody could see what quality he brings to the field. It is unfortunate that his training schedule was hampered a couple of weeks ago and he missed a few training sessions. He surprised me by sustaining the entire ninety minutes today, but he did it more with his head than his legs!”
A win would have taken the hosts on tp of the table, but FC Goa now occupy top spot after sharing the spoils tonight. However, with five games to play for the Pune based Franchise, FC Pune City will be looking to cement a place in the top four, as we enter the business end of the campaign.
Image Courtesy: ISL Media
