“I would contradict you, we are not close, but far from the title!”

“He is the coach who understands what the University means!” This is how the boss Mihai Rotaru characterized Rotaru, after the “crazy” victory with Rapid. In the last month, Mirel's science has defeated the Lighthouse (1-0), the University of Cluj (3-0) and Rapid (2-1) and finished the month in the first position in the Superligion ranking.

Mirel Rădoi: “I try to keep my balance, to gather as many things in me without seeing the players”

– Mr. Rădoi, congratulations, you are the coach of March! A perfect month for Craiova University, how was it?
– Thank you nice! It is a trophy that they have to share with the players and staff. It is a pride, it is a reward for the work we do and the results we now have at the University of Craiova. This obliges us even more, in the future, to be at the same level.

– Three victories out of four, the first in the Superligion ranking, what was the hardest during this period?
– Pfff! I think the very short time in which we had to develop all the details we had for these parties. But here I was helped at the staff level with the boys' sacrifice. There have been very long periods in cantonments with sessions, hard workouts, tactical workouts. The most difficult moment I think was the match with Rapid.

“We have an objective and we see only after the first six stages where we will find out”

– The world praises the University of Craiova as a solid team, which is well on the ground, which has surprised with your return. Has the University have changed a lot lately?
– I don't think so! They played 4-2-3-1 in many niches this season, they had Costel Gâlcă matches in which they played 4-3-3. Even with CFR Cluj home was played 4-3-3. I only changed a few things, the module I kept. We tried mentally to give them a greater impetus and confidence. At large, the value they have now had before.

– The university is close to the title of champion. You said it's not good to think about it. Is this situation much more difficult to manage?
– I would contradict you, we are not close, but far, because we have only two victories. We are conjunctural on that position. As we set with the boys, we have an objective and we see only after the first six stages where we will find out. After that, depending on the place we have and the accumulated points, we will draw a clear objective for the last four finals. Until then we take each match separately, we do not think about the championship.

“At this moment we think overall and very few people think individually”

– Do you feel the pressure of the first place, winning the championship and in the locker room?
– Honestly, no! I see it as an impetus and as an extra motivation. The atmosphere is very good in the locker room, the pressure feels in us in the staff office. There the pressure is felt.

– And for them I suspect that it is additional motivation to become the champions of Romania!
– I think that at this moment we think about the whole and very few people think individually, if for someone there are an extra trophy or the first. At the moment, we all think of a single goal, to win the next party.

– How is Mirel Rădoi when he enters the coach office? Is it isolated from everything that means outside? Or how are you?
– We try, but you can't isolate yourself! And outside there is a lot of information that can help you. From a simple interview of a counter -candidate, a coach, you can find details that can make the difference during a match. But we are surrounded by information and tactics. This is the volume of work that every staff has. I don't think we do something special. Maybe a little work hours.

Unfortunately, at the match with FCSB we could not play what we prepared. They were very skilled, probably they succeeded in the European cups. Have taken from experience, they manage to adapt to any module, to whatever the opposing team prepares

Mirel Rădoi, Craiova University coach

“I try to be a little more balanced than I was in the last term.”

– Compared to your first experience in Craiova, how are you now? What have you accumulated all this time?
– Before that I found a much more balanced lot, at the organizational chart level it is much better developed than in the period two and a half years ago. Better fix what each one has to do in his department. After that, I try to be a little more balanced than I was in the last term, even if I am not as I would like! But to a large extent I try to keep my balance, to gather as many things in me without seeing the players.

Mirel Rădoi, in FCSB – Craiova University/ Photo: Ionuț Iordache (GSP)

– The current championship How do you see it compared to the rest of the editions?
– And in this system, but in general, there were never so many teams close to the title. I sit on to think of the years when I was a player. They were Steaua, Dinamo, Rapid, Craiova, Timișoara, Vaslui … There were many valuable teams, but not so close at points level. At this moment, anyone can take the championship.

“Our players to protect Alexandru Mitriță!”

– Alex Mitriță won the trophy of “player of March”. He is a special player, is it worth special?
– Alex is a special player and we hope that opponents will not pay special attention! I think my trophy and staff are due to its evolutions. I would like our players to understand this and try, during the parties, to protect it. It is obvious to everyone that now, when they play against the University of Craiova, they come to mind only one name: Alexandru Mitriță.

– Finally I would like to send a message to the supporters, strengthening that you need them in these last finals.
– First, thanks to the little supporters who were in Giulești! A fantastic atmosphere, I could not make it heard with the players! Obviously they maintain our call opposite supporters to be next to boys and team, but We will have to, through the game and the results we are about to have, to bring them as large as possible to the stadium.

At the second category, “the coach of the month”, the newspaper nominated 3 technicians: Leo Grozavu (FC Botosani), Mirel Rădoi (Craiova University) and Vasile Miriuță (Poli Iași). On the preliminary list were: Dan Petrescu (CFR Cluj) and Elias Charalambous (Fcsb).

How to vote for the “player of the month” and “coach of the moon”

The algorithm used to establish the winners is a very simple one. The GSP editorial is the nominations, based on statistics and clear performance figures, then vote 3 categories: GSP.ro readers, editorial journalists and five specialists (former footballers or important coaches), which change from one month to another. The first ranked in each top receives 5 points, the one on the 2nd place, 4 points, etc. GSP editorial vote matters double.

Final ranking coach of March 2025

Detailed ranking

The vote of the readers

The vote of the GSP journalists

The vote of the specialists