FCSB – Sparta Prague finished 2-3 in the second leg of the third preliminary round of the Champions League, but the final score does not fully reflect the reality on the pitch. Because, especially in the first half, but also at the start of the second half, the Romanian champion was outclassed. The truth showed here the “film” of a game that proved to us, once again, that we don’t deserve to play in the Champions League groups.
Gigi Becali. PHOTO: The Truth Archive
It seems that Gigi Becali was also convinced of this. Because, in his telephone intervention at Digi Sport, the landowner from Pipera nominated the players who, in his opinion, are not at the level of the European cups.
What did Gigi Becali say at Digi Sport?
*I realized that Ştefănescu is not a player of this level. He is a player of the Romanian championship. He’s not a gamer like that. That’s … another time, the man teaches. I also convinced myself that we cannot play with Daniel Popa and Miculescu, that we have no more changes after that. It doesn’t matter who convinced me to play like this. I went after one and the other. We were supposed to start with the touring team. If we didn’t play with Ștefănescu on the right and with Popa attacking, then we dominated.
*Popa, as it is, he is not Maradona, but he is strong, he wins duels. Miculescu did not win duels. I played with Ştefănescu, he gave all the balls to the opponent. He has emotions, woe to him… We had two players who didn’t matter, Băluță and Ștefănescu. They didn’t count in lanes at all. Baluță didn’t matter, but at least he was on the field. The ball reached Ștefănescu and he lost it, at least Băluță did not touch it. Ștefănescu does not play for 1.3 million euros (no – how much FCSB paid to bring him from Sepsi). He is not of our level, he has no strength. Neither Șut nor Lixandru were the players they should have been. I think the stakes and the audience have had their say, instead of reinforcing them. They were afraid the moment they saw 30,000 people.
*We also had 11 meters. The referee was to blame for this score! We had 11 meters clear. It could have been 3-2 for us too. It could have been 2-1 at half time. He kicked Ștefănescu in the head and did not dictate anything. He gave 5 minutes of extra time at the end… Water was drunk and changes were made. He was supposed to give 8 minutes.
The remaining Romanian teams in the European cups
Champions League, preliminary round III
Tuesday
FCSB – Sparta Prague 2-3 (1-1 in the round)
Conference League, preliminary round III
Wednesday
Astana (Kazakhstan) – Corvinul Hunedoara (2-1 in the round)
17.00, Digi Sport 1, Prima Sport 1
Thursday
CFR Cluj – Maccabi Petah Tikva (Israel) (1-0 in the round)
20.00, Digi Sport 1, Prima Sport 1
Europa League, play-offs
August 22: LASK Linz (Austria) – FCSB
August 29: FCSB – LASK Linz
