Mutu hopes to mimic United performance

Fiorentina and Romania striker Adrian Mutu is all sorts of pumped up for tomorrow’s UEFA Cup semifinal with Rangers, calling it “the most important of our season so far.” Mutu and Viola strike partner Giampaolo Pazzini failed to do their part in Glasgow, and they return home to the Artemio Franchi on 0-0. Their situation is reminiscent of another big team this week, Manchester United, who only managed 0-0 away in their own European first leg semifinal. If Mutu and Viola can do what United did - get a home goal and hold the clean sheet - it’s oddly enough a trip to United’s backyard that will be their reward, since the UEFA Cup final is being staged this year at City of Manchester stadium.

If Fiorentina can manage to win, Mutu’s appearance in the final will be the first for a Romanian in either European final since Marius Niculae played as a substitute for Sporting in their 3-1 loss to CSKA Moscow in the 2005 UEFA Cup. No Romanian has gotten a UEFA Cup winners’ medal since 2000, when Galatasaray’s winning squad included both Gheorghe Popescu and “The Maradona of the Carpathians”, Gheorge Hagi.

Mutu’s hunger and passion for this match can’t be questioned, but it still remains to be seen whether he can do in Italy what he could not in Scotland, break down that tough Rangers defense and get the goal that will send him to Manchester.