Editorial Marius Mărgărit, after Rapid's elimination from the Cup: Awakening from behind

Because the objective of the season, “a trophy and European cups”, is trumpeted with every public appearance of the president Victor Angelescu. And the Cup was the most accessible, especially since in the championship there is a bigger battle than ever. And Rapid, even if it is high in the Superliga, is still a nebula, one can see it or not, including after the transfers of Paraschiv and Moruțan this winter.

If the Transylvanian players were exhausted after the Cluj derby, Rapid had another reason to be the first violin this evening in Gruia, the draw with Petrolul. In addition, thinking more about the play-off, Pancu rested some starters. He completely changed the center of the defense, two other important pieces were also missing, Djokovic and Cordea, the core of discord in the Cluj derby.

And yet, you would have expected quality football. But you know how it is when you go to the boasted tree with the bag and get the net. Same with Tuesday's game, at least in the first 60 minutes.

The first half, a huge disappointment. Nothing at all, a deaf-mute fight, no opportunities. No elaborate phase, no scheme, nothing to bring even a hint of the show that promised before the match.

Too linear, without ideas, in fixed positions to the point of stiffness, Rapid, considered the favorite of the meeting, had only one situation, a shot missed by Dobre, also in the team's score in the last matches, well, well, nothing more. A colleague's words, you can't be a leader with just the speech, you need something more, besides ambition. CFR didn't show anything either, but at least they had the excuse that they could defend the white draw, enough for qualification from the group.

Paraskiv, promise-disappointment

The Daniel Paraschiv case tends to become chronic. Today he received another chance to start from Gâlcă, but the striker lost in the second league in Spain was not seen.

He fights, he fights with the defenders, he wants, he tries, but that's it. He doesn't have the balls, but he doesn't show up for the finish either. It's completely offline. He also has an excuse, the hard-to-understand game of Giulești. Including them.

Anyway, for now Paraschiv is an anonymous, just another promise-disappointment. Nothing unexpected, given how little he had played and delivered since leaving Hermannstadt.

Talisson, something else

He was quickly replaced in the second half with Talisson, the new hope from Brazil. Which relatively quickly appeared in the foreground. That's also because it took Rapid to score, a penalty committed by Hromada and impeccably converted by Korenica, to remind them that they know how to play football.

In the last 20 minutes, the Giulești team picked up speed. Forcing, consistency, big chances. Dobre became the leader again, he was everywhere. Petrila and Manea continuously pounded the left flank. Moruțan brought color, Ciobotariu was the extra man in the offensive. The fixed positions melted, disappeared, the CFR was co-opted.

Talisson, excellently served by Dobre, lost the meeting with the goal on his debut, although the cross was perfect. Even he, Dobre, with a rushing volley missed the target.

Rapid equalized in the end, with Talisson involved in the phase, a heel do brasil to Ciobotariu, who crossed for Pașcanu's goal. However, the awakening of the people of Giulești came too late. It remained a draw, one that confirmed another elimination of Rapid from the Cup, already in the group phase.

Where and why this change, only after the conceded goal, is difficult to explain, to understand. Who is Rapid, really, that he doesn't look like the one on the ID?

That is the question of 1000 points, to which Gâlcă and his people must answer in the future. Because a promise from the objective has been lost. Only the championship remained. Where it could also be against CFR, which continues its invincible streak and is going strong. On both fronts.