Article by Ionuţ Coman – Published Thursday, February 26, 2026, 5:35 p.m. / Updated Thursday, February 26, 2026, 5:35 p.m.
There is no mathematical chance to catch another place in the Superliga play-off, lighthouse Constanța aims to rank in one of the first two places in the play-out, which would bring its presence in the play-offs for the European cups. The wish was expressed through the coach's voice Ianis Zicu at the press conference preceding the duel with CFR Cluj, from stage #29 of the Superliga.
The desire is more of the technical staff and players than of the club management, which will analyze at the end of the season whether to keep Ianis Zicu on the technical bench.
Ianis Zicu before Farul Constanța – CFR Cluj: “We can't think of anything but the next goal”
“The goal set by the management of the club, access to the play-offs, we missed it. We can't think of anything other than the next goal, which could bring this season, to fight for a European competition. I don't think a shorter break in the summer would be a reason why we don't want this. It depends on the performance.
When we were playing and we were scheduled on the Monday before Christmas, it seemed like a pain. Others played on Friday and had two extra days off. But after you let go, you have the feeling that it is an enormous joy to be on the field. So you don't have to think about the schedule, that you have an extra or minus week of vacation. You have to be happy that you are healthy and able to play sports,” explained the 42-year-old coach.
“With CFR it will be more difficult than with Rapid or Craiova”
Under these conditions, the blue-and-whites hope to collect more points until the end of the regular season, and the first opportunity is the duel with CFR Cluj, scheduled for Saturday, from 20:00, at home, in the 29th stage. Even if the Transylvanians come after 9 consecutive victories, Ianis Zicu is not afraid, especially since, this season, Farul stopped the good streaks of the opponents, ending the long streak of unbeaten matches of FC Botoșani, Csikszereda.
“The opponent is in a special shape because he has so many consecutive wins. A lot of times it's good to meet an opponent who has won so much because he can be less focused, but that's not the case now.
The Cluj players have the chance to secure their place in the play-off and, for sure, they will be very prepared. That's why the match has a very big load and it won't be the same as those with Rapid, Universitatea Craiova or even Dinamo. It will be much more difficult, because they don't want to wait for the last game”, said the technician from Constanta, who will not be able to use Ionuț Vînă, Steve Furtado, Ionuț Cojocaru and David Maftei, all with medical problems.
First match in the Superliga
For Ianis Zicu, it will be the first confrontation with Daniel Pancu as a coach in the Super League, the two having fought in the second league a few years ago.
“We know each other very well personally, we were also teammates in the national team, and studio mates on TV shows. We were also opponents in the 2nd League, when Pancu was on the bench at Rapid, and I was at Farul. But now it's different,” said the Farul coach.
They are disappointed with the position in the table, but we have to win the two games in the regular season and be calmer in the play-outs. CFR has an extraordinary career, but we showed that at home no one scares us
Let's hope that Mircea will also consider me, but I have to play better than I did with FC Argeș. This is what is required for the national team, you have to have good numbers and give the selector the confidence to call you up
–Denis Alibec
It's the last home game of the regular season, but we've got to finish on a high. We will play in the play-outs again but we can show that they are a good Championship side but fickle and only a few details have kept us off the cards for the play-offs
– Ionuț Larie
