The past week has been a dismal one for Romanian football in European competitions. Despite facing relatively modest opponents, the results have been far from convincing.
Romanian teams have failed to make a lasting impression in the second round of the Champions League and Conference League qualifiers. Universitatea Craiova, CFR Cluj, and FCSB (formerly Steaua Bucharest) have all struggled to make a dent in their respective matches.
Universitatea Craiova suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bulgarian side Levski in the first leg of the Champions League qualifiers. CFR Cluj managed a 1-1 draw against Armenian side Alashkert, thanks to late goals from Lukic and Pinho. However, it was FCSB who suffered the most embarrassing defeat, losing 3-2 to Latvian side FK Auda.
Marin Barbu, a former star player for Steaua Bucharest, has expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance. The 68-year-old coach has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the team’s handling of the European campaign.
“FCSB’s defeat was a major disappointment. CFR Cluj’s draw in Armenia was a more palatable result, but the outcome in Craiova’s match was a clear indication of the team’s struggles,” Barbu said.
Barbu has been critical of the team’s management, particularly the decision to bring in foreign players. “We’re bringing in non-valuable players from all over, and the Romanian player is left on the sidelines. It’s time for a change in our transfer policy,” he emphasized.
The retired coach has also questioned the decision to invest heavily in players like Labonne and Boutoutaou, who failed to impress against FK Auda. “With the kind of money Becali spent on them, we could have found better players. It’s time for us to rethink our strategy and focus on developing our own talent,” Barbu said.
Barbu’s comments reflect the growing frustration among Romanian football fans, who are tired of seeing their teams struggle in European competitions. The coach’s words carry weight, given his experience and knowledge of the game. His call for a change in transfer policy and a focus on developing Romanian talent is a timely reminder of the need for a more sustainable approach to football management.
If FCSB fails to overturn the 2-3 deficit against FK Auda, it will be a devastating blow to Romanian football. The team’s poor performance in European competitions has already sparked concerns about the country’s ability to compete at the highest level.
With the second leg of the qualifiers approaching, Romanian teams will need to regroup and refocus if they are to avoid further embarrassment. As Barbu noted, “At this point, it’s anyone’s game. But we need to learn from our mistakes and come back stronger in the second leg.”