“Fight in two, without Dinamo”

The white-cherries didn't break the bargain even with Petrol, the chorus of critical voices expanding after the second consecutive failure in Giulesti. Rapid was led 0-1, but immediately equalized and was satisfied with a single point from the duel with the rival in the basement of the ranking.

If the stands didn't exactly tolerate the draw with Petrolul, speedster get-beget Andrei Ciolacu tries to extract the positive parts. The former head of the white and cherry listed the positive aspects noted in 2026, analyzing how the transfers have moved and foreshadowing a two-way battle with Craiova for the title.

Ciolacu remained with his soul in Giulesti: “When I don't have training or matches, I make my schedule specifically so I don't miss Rapid matches“, the 33-year-old footballer tells us.

Former striker at Rapid, Andrei Ciolacu talks about the Giulești team's form: “I'm going to surprise a bit, but I liked what Gâlcă did”

“At first glance, everyone would say that Rapid lost two points with Petrolul, considering that they are in the fight for the championship, but, taking into account that it was a derby, a match with history for Rapid, the places in the ranking don't really matter here. Of course, with Rapid's ambitions, with the demands of the fans, playing at home, all thoughts were going towards a victory.

There was and will always be pressure at Rapid! I consider it normal, even beneficial at one point. Anyone who comes to a club like Rapid must understand, especially this year, when bigger and bigger investments have been made, big name players have come in with important resumes.

I liked it, although maybe I'm going to surprise a bit… A lot of people were unhappy, but I liked that Gâlcă changed a bit for this match. In the long run, it will turn out to be a good decision, because you need the whole group during a championship. Many were surprised by the placement of Dobre on the bench, he being perhaps the most important player.

Jambor's tenure? It was probably as a payback for the goal in the previous game.

In the long run, you probably need to keep all the players fresh, in the “ankle game”. You can't go with the same «11», although it was seen that after the others entered, Rapid pressed the accelerator a little, the homogeneity that they had was seen.

The match was divided by two fixed phases, and I think Rapidul could win in the end. If he approached the first half the way he did the second half, he would have had a better chance. Oil was pragmatic, probably settling for a draw. On Giulești, any team would probably be satisfied with a draw.

Rapid needed a win, but, considering that Dinamo is playing against Craiova, in a way they allowed themselves this tie, although they aimed for the victory”, pointed out Ciolacu, in dialogue with GSP.ro.

Andrei Ciolacu during Rapid Photo source: Instagram @andreiciolacu9

About Moruțan and Paraschiv: “A little more patience is needed with Paraschiv. Moruțan can make the difference”

Asked about the situations of Olimpiu Moruțan and Daniel Paraschiv, the effective moves that Țucu orchestrated this winter, Ciolacu did not hesitate:

“Clearly, Moruțan has impressed since the first match, he is a player who can make a difference. Rapid needed a number 10, a playmaker, such a player to give the last pass.

Paraschiv still hasn't adapted, it seems he's adapting a little harder, but I have a lot of faith in him, he's shown that he's a good striker for the Superliga level, he was the subject of a transfer to Spain, he was also with the national team… I think he still has that hunger to prove that he's a striker who can reach, for example, Bîrligea's level.

You probably need a little more patience with him. When you come from a period where you haven't played much, you probably have to adjust to the demands, the rigor of Rapid. But I think he will do it brilliantly”, believes Ciolacu.

66 matchesand Andrei Ciolacu scored 10 goals in the cherry-white shirt

“Rapid-Craiova battle, Dinamo does not have the necessary experience”

As for the fight for the Superliga title, Andrei Ciolacu predicts a thrilling two-way battle between Rapid and Universitatea Craiova, eliminating Dinamo from the calculations for the trophy:

“I see a two-way battle between Craiova University and Rapid at the end.

I see Dinamo as Rapidul from a year or two ago, when they entered the play-offs… Dinamo still does not have the necessary experience to last a long time. They have a very good group, they have a lot of soul and quality, but I don't consider that they don't have the squad of Rapid, they have Craiova's, nor the necessary experience.

I don't see her fighting for the championship this year. Next year, if they keep it up… If they count on continuity, on the same coach who did a very good job there, they will surely fight for the title. Even this year, the world didn't give them a chance to be where they are now,” said the former Rapid player.

It's nice that the traditional teams are back, we see the play-off now, with Rapid, Dinamo, Craiova, Argeș, U Cluj. It's nice that there are teams like this, that have supporters, they also have infrastructure. Romanian football is starting to look better and better!

– Andrei Ciolacu, Valletta FC striker

PHOTO. Frame by frame, the best moments of the Rapid – Petrolul derby