Article by Romeo Ene – Published on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, 20:45 / Updated on Tuesday, 10 February 2026 20:45
Adrian Mihalcea (49 years old), the coach of the Ato Arad, held the press conference prior to the away duel with Gloria Bistritain the groups of the Romanian Betano Cup. The game was scheduled for Thursday, February 12, starting at 20:30.
With a win, the Aradians qualify for the “quarters” of the competition. During the conference, MIHALCA he wanted to answer the Arad fans who accused the team of cheating in the last two games.
UTA lost the matches against CFR Cluj (0-1) and Csikszereda (0-2) and greatly compromised its chances at the play-off.
VIDEO | Adrian Mihalcea swears in the conference: “I would put my life on the line and I would go one on one with anyone who thinks that I, Adrian Mihalcea, would do anything”
Asked about the comments of the Arad fans, Mihalcea offered an unusual statement. He swore that nothing untoward happened in these parties and claims that such a thing cannot exist in 2026.
“I would put my life on the line and put myself one on one with whoever thought that I, Adrian Mihalcea, would do something wrong, because that is what is being talked about, so that I would lose. To justify myself for something I did not do, it is impossible for me.
But so, for it to be, I would put my life on the line and maybe also the life of my family and the lives of my friends… And let's, I don't know, stay stuck to the ground like that if things were done. But now there are opinions and opinions, there are upsets.
We saw, not only at us, we saw three more matches from this stage suspicious, but not suspicious, suspected by people. I understand this phenomenon differently and it is not possible anymore.
It's 2026, believe me it's almost impossible or it would be heard in second. Forget these things! Let everyone have their opinion further, you know very well, here we are the best and then the weakest, but never the top. Hand on heart and before God“, said Mihalcea, according to sportarad.ro.
UTA Arad is currently in 2nd place in group B, with 4 points. The University of Craiova is the leader, with 6. With a win, the Aradians qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition, but a draw would be enough, provided that FCSB do not win on the field of the University of Craiova.
I would not like to comment on what happened with Bergodi, because it is a delicate situation from both sides and I hope I don't end up in that situation. I too have done reprehensible things at some point and that maybe set me back a little, but you don't know how you react.
Indeed, there is pressure and stress in which at that moment you cannot control yourself. But no, I wouldn't want to comment. I'm sorry about the incident itself. (no – what punishments should Bergodi and Cordea receive?) I don't know, I think there are regulations or there are penalties in the regulations.
Now I don't know how many stages can be given. The referee's report matters a lot, not the images themselves. I think the images are not proof anywhere, maybe in Italy maybe, but we are talking about us. It was not a pleasant episode at all.– Adrian Mihalceathe coach of UTA Arad
Ranking in group B of the Betano Romanian Cup
