Daniel Popa (30 years old) will play on Monday evening, from 20:00, in a capital match for FCSBformation in which he evolved during 2024-2025. His attacker Metalloglobus spoke to GSP.ro about the upcoming clash, his current form and the team's goal.
For the champion of Romania, Pop ticked off 30 official matches, scored two goals and provided four assists.
VIDEO | Daniel Popa, before FCSB – Metalogloblus: “I have nothing to prove. If I score in the 90th minute, it's clear that I will be happy!”
Returning to the field after a period in which he did not play, Daniel Popa says that he is feeling better and better and that his priority is to catch up.
“I feel good at Metaloglobus, I'm glad that I can train every day and that I'm healthy. I had a hard time, I prepared more on my own, but now I'm getting better and better. I need matches to find a rhythm”, Popa pointed out.
About the match with FCSB, the striker says that he does not consider it a special one, even if he will meet his former team:
“Not necessarily a special match. I want to enjoy football, to be healthy, to try to help the team with my experience and, with the help of Mihai Teja, to integrate as quickly as possible. To also help the young ones and, by a miracle, we can save this team!”.
In the round, Metaloglobus won 2-1 against FCSB, and Popa hopes for another positive result:
“It was a tough match, if I'm not mistaken, I think FCSB led at the break and the Metaloglobus ones also missed the penalty. I would like us to get the three points. We're not going through a very good period, in the last stages we didn't manage to get points, but the boys are focused, they're training well and I think we deserve more points.”
“I have nothing to prove”
Asked if he felt he had something to prove to his former team, Popa was adamant: “No, I have nothing to prove. I was there, I didn't integrate very well, I tried. I don't regret anything, I really thank the people there for respecting me, not judging me, whether I played well or not.
I had a good chance, I played for the best teams in Romania, and at Dinamo, and at them, so I have nothing to prove.
Daniel Popa during the FCSB period
I am still in touch with Mihai Popescu, who was a colleague of mine at Dinamo as well. Even yesterday I spoke to him and I am glad that gradually he will reintegrate and play. God was with him and he came back very quickly.”
If he scores a goal against FCSB, Popa said frankly: “In any match, I have no reason not to be happy. Now it also depends on what minute I score. If I score in the 90th minute, it's clear that I'm going to be happy!”.
Saving from relegation is a difficult goal, but not impossible. Anything can happen in football. We have to believe until the end and fight for every point!
– Daniel Popa Metaloglobus attacker
The only trophies won by Daniel Popa are with Dinamo and FCSB
Trained at the clubs from Dâmbovița (Fieni and FCM Târgoviște), Daniel Popa also evolved throughout his career for:
Chindia Târgoviște, Dinamo Bucharest, FC Botoșani, Daejeon Hana (South Korea), Cluj University, FCSB and Genclerbirligi (Turkey).
In his records, the striker has:
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1x champion of Romania – with FCSB (2024/2025)
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1x League Cup winner – with Dinamo (2016/2017)
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1x winner of the Romanian Supercup – with FCSB (2024/2025)
For the Under 21 national team, Popa scored 11 minutes in a Euro 2017 qualifier against Denmark under Cristian Dulca.
