Football

The leader of the national team says it all: "a hostile atmosphere in Ghencea, but the players of Dinamo are used to it", "I will not operate upon my knee, the fans can stay calm, we'll defeat Serbia!", "I will play another five years and then I will coach!".

An hour after the game against Steaua, Adrian Mutu was relaxed. "How long would you like to talk? I am on schedule now, but the coach allowed me running late". Meanwhile Alin, Mutu's childhood friend was comforting him, assuring about the well being of his parents. "I did not get the chance to see them. Maybe my dad would have wanted to come to this game, but I told him it was better to watch it from Pitesti, in front of the Tv. It was too risky. Too bad."

 

"For us, the players of Dinamo"

- Why it was risky?
- Well, didn't you see the banners in the stands? The hooting... In Ghencea, on this stadium, I received the most insults ever in my entire career. That's bad.

 

- The hooting of the fans affected you?
- I expected even worst. No, they didn't interest me. But I've been applauded too, you know, in Ghencea. Somebody else got even more insults than I did.

 

- Well, you added fuel on the fire before the game.
- We, the players of Dinamo, are used to such audience. I was not surprised, actually I was offended by the supporters, they made fun of their own team. They even swore at Lovin for missing the ball... That's a pity.

 

"Piturca is the coach. I am not getting surgery!"

 

- Ok, let's pass over this Steaua episode. How is your knee?
- I'm fine. I decided not to get surgery. The supporters of the National team should stay calm! I want to achieve nice things together in the spring!

 

- The coach Piturca says it would be better for you to get surgery.
- Yes. Piturca is the coach. I talked to the doctors, the doctors from the team, and the doctors from Fiorentina. In the end the decision is mine: I will not get surgery! Sometimes you are the best doctor for yourself.

 

"I am a parent and I realize now how much my parents suffered"

- You have changed.
- Why are you so surprised? I am thirty. I am another Mutu. A much responsible one. I used to be chilly, I know, but that period is over now.

 

- Do you have any regrets regarding the period in London?
- No, not a bit. There have been some things driven by the period of youth, curiosity or whatever. I enjoyed rebirthing from down there, were I was. First of all, I needed my rehabilitation in front of my family and then in front of my fans. During the scandal in London I found out where I was and where I had to take it to.

 

- Your family suffered a lot then.
- I was thinking now, as a parent, about the suffering of my parents... I thank God for having a stabile family. My mother and father helped me a lot at that moment. They stayed close to me and I passed over the difficulties much easier with them by my site.

 

"I am not retiring. I have more playing to do"

 

- You are almost 30 years old. Do you think about retiring?
- No. Not at all. I my opinion, I have a lot more playing to do. The most important thing is to be healthy.

 

- What will you do after retiring?
- I don't know. Maybe become a coach. The first two teams I am taking into account are FC Arges and Dinamo.

 

- What about the holidays?
- Far away from Romania. In Santo Domingo. My entire family goes there to celebrate. Not for long, though, I don't have such a long pause and an important exam for my career knocks on the door...

 

7 Goals scored by Adi Mutu for Fiorentina during this season, in A Series and Champions League
2 Million euros is the annual salary of the Romanian player at Viola, for the contract signed until 2012
65 games performed by Mutu wearing the shirt of the National team. Only Lobont (71) and Contra (69) performed more.