Claudiu Niculescu said it directly: “I'm not thinking about the Cup” + Surprising statement of the coach from Slatina: “I had to manage the starters”

CSM Slatina, a team without the right to promotion in the Super League, occupies only 13th place in League 2, and Claudiu Niculescu is not very interested in the Romanian Cup. He expected a failure with CFR Cluj, taking into account the difference in value between the two teams. He regrets that he did not manage certain starters, in view of the match with Chindia, on Saturday.

Claudiu Niculescu, after Slatina – CFR Cluj: “My only regret is that maybe I should have managed some starters”

“We came with hope, we made big mistakes that cost you in the table against such teams. There is a difference in value, we are also playing at their home, our chances were very small. In the second half we had a little better evolution. We had opportunities, but not very many.

My only regret is that maybe I should have managed some starters who also played on Saturday. We have a very tough match against Chindia, which we have to win. Yes, we were timid, there are players who faced such valuable footballers for the first time, it's normal, that's it, we have a long way to go to Slatina.

We have a tough game, we have to recover physically and look good on Saturday, it's a very important game. Honestly, I'm not thinking about the Romanian Cup, especially after this result. We do not have a very reassuring situation in the ranking. Tough games are coming, against the teams that aimed for promotion. We hope to get as many points as possible, because we need it.

It's still until the next Cup match, we'll think about it then. I understand that from next season, steps will be taken to receive promotion rights, I can't tell you more, it's not up to me, we hope. It does not mean that we will succeed in this, it is important for the mentality of the players. We focus on this season and see what will happen”, said Niculescu, at Prima Sport.