“They dominated us in 10! They have bonuses if they get into the play-offs, but they don't want to understand”
Article by Tudor Belivacă – Published Thursday, February 26, 2026, 9:17 p.m. / Updated Thursday, February 26, 2026, 9:19 p.m.
Daniel Oprița, the coach of Steaua, commented on his team's victory over CSM Slatina, score 2-1, in a match of stage #19 of League 2.
Although victorious, Daniel Oprița was not satisfied with the attitude of his students. The “military” technician reproached them for not having the right attitude in the duel with Slatina. The technician also warned his footballers that they could lose a sum of money if they miss the goal: the play-offs.
With two matches before the end of the regular season, Steaua, a team that does not have the right to promotion, is in 7th place, just outside the play-off, with 33 points accumulated in 19 stages. At the moment, the “military” are equal on points with the 5th and 6th places, play-off places, but they have an extra match played. ASA and Chindia Târgoviște did not play at the moment in stage #19. By the end of the stage, Steaua may fall to 8th place.
Daniel Oprița, statements after Steaua – CSM Slatina: “They also dominated us in 10”
“Apart from the fact that I am satisfied with the three points… I don't know if they were deserved, we suffered a lot, we saw tension, fear, pressure, we ended up playing with a knife to the bone, as if it were the last, as if we didn't end up in this situation of playing every match as if it were the last.
The points are important, but I'm concerned about the game and the attitude. It was a lucky win. Slatina also dominated us in 10! That's the truth. If we continue like this, we won't have any chance”, said Daniel Oprița, according to digisport.ro.
It's their business, I explained. If they still want to play after that… We play in the play-out, we play for nothing. You play to pass the time, to finish the season. If they don't want to understand that they have to prove it… You play at Steaua, a team without the right to promotion, a beautiful stadium, you have the chance to prove it.
I'm guilty too, I don't hide it, but I say we have to do something else. My boys have some bonuses if they make the play-offs. If they play in the play-out, they have nothing left. This must motivate them, not that Oprița is leaving, as I have always heard
–Daniel Oprița, according to the cited source.
