Sergiu Hanca (34) and Lukas Zima (32), key players for Petrolul, shared their thoughts following a 1-1 draw against CFR Cluj. Both athletes felt their team deserved to secure a victory based on their performance.
Petrolul dominated possession, holding the ball for 71% of the match, and created significantly more scoring opportunities, with 26 attempts compared to CFR’s 12. However, they were unable to achieve what would have been their first home win this month.
VIDEO | Lukas Zima: “We Dropped Two Points”
The Czech goalkeeper stated, “We played a good match. Yes, we conceded a goal early due to our mistakes, but I believe we dominated the entire game and were better than them. In my opinion, we lost two points today.”
Zima added, “It was tough due to the weather; it rained heavily in the first half. Playing on such a pitch was very challenging, but as I said, we lost two points. We deserved to win; we had many chances to score. They had a few opportunities too, but I believe we deserved the victory.”
VIDEO | Sergiu Hanca: “We Were Clearly Better”
Hanca expressed, “We expected three points tonight; we prepared for the match to win. We played well and created chances, but football doesn’t always go as planned. The important thing is that we earned this point. They anticipated a counter-attacking game, while we controlled the match for the most part. It’s disappointing that we didn’t win, especially since it’s been a while since we last won at home, and we really wanted that, but it is what it is. We have time before our next home game to find a way to delight our fans again.”
He continued, “If we look at possession, goal-scoring situations, and all the statistics, we were clearly better than them. But they also had some counter-attacks. It was normal to be exposed, as we have a style of play we prefer, and that’s what football is about.”
Hanca mentioned that the pitch conditions were a disadvantage, especially near the benches, where he struggled to see his ankle after stepping into the ground towards the end of the match.
“These are the conditions; we have to adapt. That’s what professional footballers do. We earned a point today; we wanted more, but it’s a learning evening for us to manage those counter-attacks better in the future,” Hanca remarked.
He concluded, “The tough part begins now. All teams will take us more seriously and will prepare differently against us. As the rounds progress, there are fewer points available, and everyone wants to be as high as possible.”
Petrolul is confident they will finish this stage in a play-off position.
