Everyone Unhappy About Mutu’s Ban – Except Victor Pitruca

Adrian Mutu did something not all that intelligent and continued to pester the referee with not so nice words a little over a week ago against Cagliari, ending up in a red card, marching orders and a two game ban on the domestic front. With Serie A having just two games to run, the ban ended his season and relegated Adrian to watching Fiorentina’s Champions League hopes from the stands. They did quite well without him against Parma this past weekend, but then again….it’s Parma. Everyone seems to do well against them. (Which would explain why they fired their second coach this season just today.)

Mutu has unquestionably been one of Fiorentina’s best players this season – most will tell you second best behind half-man, half-feline Sebastian Frey. So his ban was a huge blow for a squad who will go down to the last day fighting for that priceless fourth Champions League spot. Nobody in Firenze is happy.

Victor Pitruca is, though. The formidable leader of his attack will now be mighty fresh for the tournament in Swissaustria.

“He is tired after a long and stressful season, so it will be good to allow him a little time to rest and recuperate.”

And he’s right. Mutu is an “undroppable”, and someone who must play in all the big games, something he’s done when available for Fiorentina. He also spent a sizable chunk of time on the sideline after being injured against Roma in February. Certainly someone high up on the list of “guys who could use a break”.

So for a guy who will undoubtedly have an impact on his team’s fortune – either way – this could be precisely the thing to make th Group of Death a little bit more hellish for everyone else.