Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Saturday, 06 December 2025, 23:23 / Updated Saturday, 06 December 2025 23:23
FCSB – Dinamo 0-0. After the white draw in the “Romania derby”, former international Basarab Panduru (55 years old) had no mercy on the player of the Romanian champion, Tavi Popescu (22 years old), whom he criticized for the way he managed the game on Saturday night, at the National Arena. He was introduced at half-time and was in danger of not finishing the match on the field, after he also caused the displeasure of the boss Gigi Becali
Panduru's analysis was based on a phase that happened in the 49th minute, when Octavian Popescu tried to score, taking advantage of Epassy's exit, but sent it far over the goal, and the scoreboard did not change. He was puzzled by the fact that the term technical player is attributed to Tavi Popescu, and he misses from such a simple phase.
Tavi Popescu, criticized after FCSB – Dinamo
“Few conclusions. One of the weakest matches. On Olaru's occasion, the ball wasn't even on the goal. At Gnahore, the ball hits the bar, but those occasions were late.
I keep hearing how technical Octavian Popescu is. Well, come on, come on! Epassy goes bad out of the gate and you go over the gate. Technically does it mean to give outside or between the legs? Technically it meant putting the ball in the goal. This is the biggest opportunity, actually.
He is the most technical player in Romania, the goalkeeper was on his way. You had to run into him. He puts that outside and the ball goes 20 meters over the goal”, said Basarab Panduru, after the match, on the show “Fotbal Show”, from Prima Sport.
And Becali executed Tavi Popescu
Tavi Popescu entered at half-time and could have left in the 75th minute, if Mihai Stoica had not intervened.
“I put in George Popescu. Do you realize? How can you lose all the balls? I wanted to change him in the 75th minute, I thought we might win. I talked to MM and he said: “Hey Gigi, what's up, they don't even have anyone… You're ruining this guy”.
He doesn't love football so much that he dedicates himself, works. He's still childish, he doesn't grow up. It doesn't work anymore, me, with popcorn. The one who can does them. You lost them all. He entered fresh… Okay, he entered well, but then he lost everything,” said Gigi Becali, after the match, on Prima Sport.
Images from the “Derby of Romania”
Superliga standings
