UTA Arad coach Mihalcea urges resilience after Dinamo controversy

UTA Arad coach Adrian Mihalcea held a press conference on Wednesday ahead of Friday’s Superliga clash against Petrolul Ploiești, the final match of the regular season's first half. The Romanian technical director used the opportunity to issue a firm message to his players regarding physical conduct and tactical discipline.

The instructions followed a controversial defeat against Dinamo, where UTA conceded a goal while defender Dmytro Pospelov was temporarily off the pitch. Referee Marcel Bîrsan had stopped play after a duel left Pospelov lying on the grass. During this period of numerical inferiority, Danny Armstrong scored for Dinamo from 25 meters on wet ground. Mihalcea explained that the absence of Pospelov forced a central midfielder to drop into defense, reducing midfield density and affecting defensive organization.

Mihalcea advised his players to rise quickly from physical challenges, even if sustaining minor injuries like bleeding or lost teeth, to avoid being outnumbered. He defended Pospelov’s actions, stating the defender did not simulate injury despite the intensity of the contact. "I would recommend players to get up as soon as possible, even if a little blood flows or they lose a tooth," Mihalcea said.

The coach also addressed rumors concerning his relationship with club management and allegations that he had missed training sessions. Mihalcea refused to clarify the situation publicly, stating he only wishes to focus on winning the upcoming match. He acknowledged there had been "many discussions" but declined to provide details, emphasizing that verbal promises lack a solid basis and that he prefers to keep internal issues private.