Costel Gâlcă will officially start his tenure as Rapid Bucharest’s head coach on July 11, facing newly promoted FC Argeș in an away Superliga match. In the pre-match press conference, he expressed confidence in the team’s rigorous summer preparation and their readiness to begin the campaign positively[3].
Gâlcă emphasized the importance of *attitude, courage, and maximal commitment* on the pitch to bring joy to Rapid supporters, underlining that every match is about winning points. Despite the away venue in Mioveni, he stressed the significance of starting the season with a victory and encouraged players to impose their game and take attacking risks[3].
Regarding the squad, Gâlcă praised new signing Drilon Hazrollaj for a strong preseason and acknowledged Antoine Baroan’s need for more integration time. He confirmed that most newcomers have adapted well except Baroan, who is still settling in. The team aims first to secure a European competition spot this season, with ambitions to challenge for the title in the future[2][3].
In a notable disciplinary decision, Gâlcă confirmed the exclusion of last season’s key player Mattias Kait, signaling a clear direction and high standards for the squad[4]. He also addressed squad injuries and leadership options, highlighting the importance of experienced figures like Cristi Săpunaru for the team’s balance and spirit[3].
This opening match and Gâlcă’s fresh leadership set a decisive tone for Rapid’s season, signaling an intent to compete vigorously for European qualification and, eventually, the Romanian crown[1][2].