Nelutu Sabau's instant reply, asked if he would come to the national team instead of Mircea Lucescu! Open a debate: “Someone else was doing more?!”

Ioan Ovidiu Sabău, 57 years old, is part of the – very small – group of Romanians who calmly analyze the end of the 2026 WC preliminaries campaign.

The former coach of U Cluj, free of contract at the moment, expressed his point of view in an interview for Gazeta Sporturilor, also talking about Mircea Lucescu.

The Romanian national team is the mentor of “Moțului”. Sabău analyzed the situation in which his teacher, now 80 years old, finds himself, expressing his opinion in a calculated tone. “Would another coach have done more than Mircea Lucescu in this campaign?!” is the question that may open a possible debate among microbiologists.

Ioan Ovidiu Sabău's analysis after Bosnia – Romania: “Maybe the red card at Drăguș was too harsh”

“Very good match in the first half, we could have won without any problems, but a lot changed after that (Drăguș's) elimination. We fell mentally, they got courage with the public behind them…

I say that Romania was good in the field, in many moments, but, of course, at 1-3 what can you say?! There may be interpretations, vis-a-vis the team, of changes. But the idea, I think, was that Bîrligea and Ianis (Hagi) slowed down and then it was good and useful for Drăguș, at speed, to take on the opponents one by one. It just turned out to be the other way around! There are unexpected things that come up, that come from where you don't expect, like that elimination.

That I also sometimes say to myself: “It would be better to make the team differently, but…”. It's also the opponent, the day your team is trapped, you don't get a ball, Dzeko heads… The small details. Bosnia have players in bigger teams than ours, but they didn't show anything in the first half.

I never thought it would reverse the result. Maybe the red card for Drăguș was a tough decision, because there is no blood… OK, he lifted his foot up, but our player is looking for the ball, the opponent is coming from behind, our player doesn't see him…

Then, in the first half, maybe he could have been sent off in Bosnia, elbowing, breaking his ear. Now, I don't know what the VAR would have said to the “headquarters”, Sabău told Gazeta Sporturilor.

We were never a combat team, but only on a “trick”, on something special. Boldness and toughness in duels was theirs. It would be nice if it was with us, but we don't have anything like that in our luggage
Ioan Ovidiu Sabău

Sabău, asked if Mircea Lucescu should be replaced at the helm of the national team: “Would another coach have done more?!”

Asked if a change of coach is required in view of the play-off in March 2026, Neluțu Sabău remained loyal to his teacher from Dinamo, from Rapid, from Il Calcio, Mircea Lucescu.

“I don't believe it, I don't believe it, I don't believe it! We need to analyze (the match) more carefully and professionally. At what level we are, what we need at the moment, the players who were missing. And if it was a different coach, would he have done more? Would the team have looked better with what they have?

Mr. Lucescu has all the assets at his disposal. There is no way he has forgotten his job, he has shown that he has an eye, that he can prepare important matches. But you run into a lot of problems, you run into situations, you adapt to what you have if you can.

That's how we are, unfortunately, when one is down, we give it even more! Let's be more balanced! Let's put ourselves a little in the shoes of the coaches and the players. Specialists also analyze Guardiola and Ancelotti, but… When you intervene, give advice, analyze, you put yourself better, higher, than those with special results. But, realistically, what would each of us have done in such situations, like those in Bosnia?!”, reacted the coach from Transylvania.

Let's analyze the work of some people without antipathy, because we like one, and we can't stand another. And no personal attacks on players. Our level must be seen, at what stage we are!
Ioan Ovidiu Sabău

Ioan Ovidiu Sabău believes that Poland and Ukraine are approachable opponents for Romania in March 2026

In March is the “gift” play-off on the Nations League route, then the eventual final for a ticket to the World Championship. 26 and 30 March 2026, respectively, are the dates we refer to in order to reach again, after 28 years, a final tournament of such scope.

“It depends on who you “fall” next Thursday (ed. when the draw is made). They are very, very good opponents. First of all, you, Romania, have to look good. We also fell a little mentally in Bosnia. However, let's not hide, let's see the reality, let's correct, but let's not be hostile!

I say that Poland and Ukraine are, let's say, approachable opponents. The others, Italy and Turkey, are tough, tough. That is if there are no surprises on this list as well. The important thing is to win a battle, the play-off, the semi-final, the first match, then we'll see what we do with the war, with the final!”, declared the renowned technician.

Ioan Ovidiu Sabău does not see himself as a selector instead of Mircea Lucescu: “Some sympathize with him, others are waiting for him to give a kick”

Sabău was asked, head-on, if he would consider a possible approach to take over the national team before the “double” playoff. He is free of contract, he was appreciated for his recent work at U Cluj, he also had great results, including as a coach. In 2009, for example, when Sabău beat his mentor, Lucescu, in Poli Timisoara – Şahtior, 2-2 and 0-0. A qualification at that time in the Champions League play-off, with Shakhtar – the holder of the UEFA Cup – eliminated!

“Moțulu”'s reply came almost instantly: “No, no… I can't even think about such a thing. I have too much respect for Mircea. She must stay with you and at the dam, fight for the qualification. She is the most suitable.

Anyway, it's very, very hard for him to propose to me. There are details, details, details.

At the moment, it's a difficult situation to manage in the national team, I don't give advice, I don't intend to correct, everyone says their point of view.

Some sympathize with Mr. Lucescu, others can't wait for him to give up and screw them over. But I know what it's like when you struggle to find solutions.

We are on the sidelines, we say what we see, we analyze… But let it not be an attack on the person! We still have a chance to qualify for the World Cup, let's pay attention to the details”, concluded Ioan Ovidiu Sabău.

55of selections has Neluțu Sabău as a player in the first representative team, also having 8 goals