Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Thursday, October 30, 2025, 4:22 p.m. / Updated Thursday, October 30, 2025, 4:22 p.m.
Laurentiu Rus, 40 years old, second coach at CFR Cluj, held the press conference prior to the match with Dinamo (Friday, 20:30).
Friday evening will be the last match where CFR will be led by Laurentiu Rus and Ovidiu Hoban, before the team to be taken over by Daniel Pancu.
Laurentiu Rus, an essential piece in the preparation of Friday's game, held the press conference. Moreover, after the dismissal of Andrea Mandorlini, it was the former midfielder who fulfilled the media duties.
Rus spoke in superlative terms about Zeljko Kopic's team, although he stated during the conference that he sees the CFR team to be above the Dynamo team.
Laurentiu Rus, before Dinamo – CFR Cluj: “We meet the team that plays perhaps the most beautiful game”
“The match with Dinamo comes very quickly after the one with Slatina, in which we had quite a few successes, which raised our morale a little. We know that we will meet a strong team, who practices perhaps the most beautiful game in Romania. They have wonderful, unique supporters behind them who will support and push them. I hope that the guys have understood these things and that they have to rise to the level of this game mentally.
We are bad everywhere, both away and at home. We are not proud of the results so far. That's why I hope the players will be able to put into practice what I have prepared for this match and get a positive result.
Even if we have a better team, superior in terms of value and numbers to those from Dinamoboys are not at their true worth. Their confidence level is still low. Certainly, after Tuesday's match we put another stone in their confidence, determination, ambition to come back, but now we have to prove it in the championship, where we really, really need points”, said Rus.
Laurențiu Rus: “Many batch problems. Louis Munteanu did not train normally”
He let it be understood that Louis Munteanu will not enter on Friday evening either. The forward has not played since the 2-2 draw with Csikszereda on October 16 and has scored just two goals this season.
“We have a lot of squad problems at the moment, several questionable players. We're waiting until travel time to see who we're going to put in the squad that will make the trip. Louis has come in with the squad, but he hasn't done normal training.
There's a pretty slim chance he'll play. We are waiting for Otto's face mask to arrive, let's see if it arrives today or not. We are more problems that we need to clear up. We will see by the time of departure who will come with us”, Rus said.
Rus spoke briefly with Daniel Pancu, the new CFR coach
“Secundul” from CFR also revealed that he had a discussion with Daniel Pancu, before he signed the coaching contract with the Višinii:
“Honestly, I spoke with him last night for 5 minutes, short of everything. He hadn't signed at the time we spoke. He told me that he is with us, that he trusts what we have prepared these days and that he hopes we can get a positive result.
We will be on the bench [cu Dinamo]we will continue to make decisions within the staff. He will come after this match”.
