“Whoever does such a thing pays!” » Violent cry from the training camp of Metaloglobus, a club under investigation for betting

In Antalya, where Metalloglobus is conducting its winter camp, Gavrilaș spoke to GSP about a goal that, at the beginning of the season, seemed impossible: saving from relegation. He calls it “a miracle still achievable”, being convinced that the team from Pantelimon lost many points on “childish mistakes” and that the chances still exist.

Beyond the present, the discussion with Gavrilaș also set some important milestones in his career: the period at Astra, where he worked under Marius Șumudică, a coach who “remained in his soul”, but also the episode in which, as a teenager, he was wanted by Milan.

The goalkeeper did not avoid any sensitive topic, speaking openly about the betting scandal in which Metaloglobus is being investigated: “If something like this happens again in 2025, who will pay.”

VIDEO. George Gavrilaș: “We hope for one more surprise: to save ourselves”

– Hello, George! How is it in Antalya, how is the training?
– Hello! with love So far everything is going well. We are glad that the weather is also good during this period, it is not like in other years, with rain, we can enjoy these good fields.

– How many camp in Antalya is for you?
– I don't know, but I have a lot. That's what my wife also told me, maybe we'll go on vacation in Turkey… And I told her to show me which hotels in advance, because I've been to many, so I don't repeat them.

7 clubsGeorge Gavrilaș has in his CV: FC Baia Mare, Astra Giurgiu, CF Brăila, FC Voluntari, Daco-Getica Bucharest, Petrolul Ploiești and Metaloglobus.

– Do you still remember the first one?
– I was at Astra, I stayed in Alanya as it were. I was up on a mountain, it was very beautiful. I think Nicolo Napoli was the coach at that time.

– How does this training period feel during the competitive break? You guys are fighting to avoid relegation, how much does the almost two weeks spent here matter?
– It matters a lot, in my opinion. We have good lands, Mister likes us to go out with construction, to practice beautiful football and I think this period helps us a lot.

“I lost points on some children's mistakes”

– Regarding the ranking situation, do you feel a little unfair? You have played very well in many matches, do you think you have less points than you deserve?
– I lost some points due to some children's mistakes. I think we would have deserved to be a little higher in the ranking. Now we try to adjust from these things and be stronger when the championship starts.

• Before the restart of the championship, Metaloglobus is the “red lantern” in the Superliga, with 11 points: 2 successes, with Farul and FCSB, 5 draws and 14 failures. The team from Pantelimon is 5 points away from the play-off places.

– Did you still think, when you came to play at Metaloglobus, that you would end up in League 1?
– Honestly, yes. In the summer, we also talked to Junior Morais to come here and help us. That's what I was talking about, I was telling him that this year we have to take advantage, shoot, that we have a good team and we have to promote. The play-off was a target for us, that's clear.

– However, the result from the tie with Iași came as a surprise.
– Iasi, a good team at the time, from a big city. I don't think anyone thought we would get past them, but in football anything is possible.

– FCSB, CFR Cluj, Craiova did not leave with all 3 points from Clinceni. Dinamo and Rapid had difficulties there. Do you prepare differently before such matches? You looked better with the higher ranked teams than with the second part of the ranking.
– Indeed, the ambition is a bit higher, but we tried to play with the other teams as well. The better teams try to play, you have to stay more compact, forced-forced they force you to stay compact. It's a little easier, so to speak. It's harder to get to the goal when you stand 5-6-7 people on 20-25 meters and you have to take advantage of the opportunities you have, on the counterattack.

The beginning was more difficult for us. Until the players came, until they integrated into the team, to be set up with the physical training, it was difficult in the summer. Now we have homogeneity and we hope to make another surprise this year. We hope to produce one more surprise, to stay this season. Let's see.

– George Gavrilaș, Metaloglobus goalkeeper

He was a champion with Astra in the “golden” era from Giurgiu: “Šumudica remained in my soul”

– Does your presence in the locker room, your voice matter much? Did you come to Metaloglobus as a former champion of Romania?
– We hope to help young people as much as possible. We also have many talented young people, the Irimia brothers, Liș, are valuable young players.

– That we were talking about your experience, how was the time spent at Astra?
– A very beautiful one, it was a sensational group there. I think it was the only team, if I'm not mistaken, that was united. Anyone you ask at the moment among former colleagues, they would say that everyone was united. Romanians with foreigners, foreigners with Romanians.

6 trophiesGavrilaș won throughout his career: the title with Astra (2016), two Romanian Cups – one with Astra (2014), one with FC Voluntari (2017) and three Supercups: in Giurgiu, in 2014 and 2016, near Capital, in 2017.

– Somehow this was your asset during that period, the unit, the group?
– They helped us, yes, but Şumudica also managed to gather us, to make us understand that there were many shortages there. It was a very nice group.

– What was it like to work with Marius Șumudică?
– It was a pleasure. It stayed in my soul, it helped me a lot, at least for me. I just have to thank him.

After a match with FC Brașov in the Romanian Cup… We led 3-0 at halftime and they equalized at 3. In the 119th minute, we won 4-3. I had taken a penalty, I came out to a block, I pinched the ball. After the flash, Marius Șumudică took me separately, he told me that he was not angry with me and that the next match, we had against Craiova, remember, I will win it and I will also be in goal. To sit quietly and mind my own business. It gives you courage.

– How important is it for a goalkeeper to feel the confidence of the coach, even when he makes a mistake?
– After the game, when I get home, I think about certain phases of the match, what I could change in the future.

“Forced” by his brother to stay in the goal! He was wanted by the great AC Milan

– How were your beginnings in football, what do you remember from your childhood?
– I have an older brother, he was a striker. being bigger the smallest passes through the gate. That's how I started. There were several friends of mine much older, they put me in the gate and it all started from there. My father picked me up and took me to a football club in Sighetu Marmatiei. That's how it all started.

– You practically had no choice.
– Yes, from the start it was just the gate.

– Who was your idol?
– I really liked Oliver Kahn, I grew up with him, he also had that madness, I liked him.

– There was a time when you were in trials in Italy, at a big club, AC Milanese. How was that adventure?
– I was at Unirea Dej during that time, I was 15-16 years old. They came to follow me, I had only made my debut in the 2nd League. About two weeks ago some scouts had come from Milaneseto follow me I played both in the big team and in the juniors, so they could see me. Furthermore, it was at the management's choice.

– A resolution for 2026, both personally and professionally?
– On a professional level, let's stay one more season in League 1. On a personal level, maybe one more child. I thank God that we are healthy and have everything, no problem.

– We can't avoid an unpleasant topic. Your team's name appeared in a betting scandal, suspicious matches. How did it feel in the locker room, how is it for you guys?
– I also said it in interviews, when it was crazy: if things like this still happen in 2025, who does such a thing to pay. At least it didn't affect me at all, but it's annoying that everyone asks you. Stay and explain each one… For me, it's important when you get home to put your head on the pillow and sleep peacefully.