Mihai Stoica, FCSB’s president of the board, offered a detailed analysis after the team’s surprising 1-2 defeat against Inter d’Escaldes in the first Champions League qualifying round. Despite a difficult trip involving a long journey and hotel changes, Stoica emphasized that the real challenge was psychological, with fear of a humiliating loss inhibiting the players’ performance. He noted the team’s improvement in spirit but criticized the premature judgment from club owner Gigi Becali, urging more trust in key players Adrian Șut and Darius Olaru, whose absence or limited play time affected the squad’s rhythm.
Stoica revealed that the absence of vital forwards Daniel Bîrligea and Denis Alibec significantly weakened FCSB’s European campaign, highlighting that last season’s strong displays were linked to Bîrligea’s involvement. He expressed optimism that Octavian Popescu’s imminent return from injury would bolster the team’s chances moving forward. Looking ahead, Stoica assessed that their next opponent, Shkendija from North Macedonia, represents a lesser challenge than Inter d’Escaldes, suggesting FCSB could regain confidence in the second qualifying round.
His candid remarks on the team’s cautious approach and the psychological hurdle expose FCSB’s struggle to replicate their historic European performances, shining light on the urgent need for full squad fitness and tactical stability to progress further in continental competition[1][2].