Article by Maria Olteanu, Romeo Ene – Published on Wednesday, 04 March 2026 23:41 / Updated on Thursday, 05 March 2026 00:50
Craiova University beat CFR Cluj, 3-1 after overtime. Daniel Pancu (48 years old), the guests' technician, reacted after the elimination from the Betano Romanian Cup. Disappointed, Pancu recognized the superiority of Olten, but he had higher expectations, taking into account the success of Andrei Cordea (26 years old) in the 90th minute.
He also spoke about the gesture he made to Filipe Coelho after his team's success. He waved at him, but in a friendly way, as he claims to have discussed with the Portuguese coach at the end of the game.
He regrets the elimination from the Cup in the context in which this was the main goal he set when he signed with CFR and he did not understand the reason why the Craiova technician was eliminated at the end, when he entered the field to celebrate with the players.
Daniel Pancu, statements after Craiova – CFR Cluj 3-1: “They are the best, the most dangerous”
“We managed to equalize, somehow, against the course of the game. In the first half we played a very poor game, possession, duels, all the balls won by them. We knew they were a very good team. If we had played in Cluj, maybe the game would have been different and the chances would have been better on our side.
I think we were the better team at the end. At Slimani's and Matei's, they seemed like great and important occasions. You can see that Slimani is not playing, he probably had two solutions in mind. Even at his 38 years old it happens. I would shoot first if I were him.
After which he jumps off the Sheriff's lawn, they finish and the problem is gone. The difference was made in the changes, because again we started to lose the duels, a game that suits the hosts and in the end we lost.
They are the best, both Mora and Bancu, in this system. They are the most dangerous players. That's why I insisted on the full-backs to stay near the center backs. Very hard to annihilate unless you go down with extremes, which means very little energy on the offensive phase. Biliboc and Cordea made an effort.
It was a game in which there was no draw option, it was an elimination game. The main objective for me was this (no – winning the Cup). This is what I was hoping for when I signed with CFR. Unfortunately, the fates also took us to the toughest possible away opponent. In Cluj, maybe the problem data would have been different.
First Coelho told me that I entered the field for Louis Munteanu's goal (no – Craiova – CFR 1-1, on December 7, in the championship). He was talking a lot, he probably made a gesture, I don't know why he was removed. I entered the field three times and received nothing.
Mr. Coelho gave me a gesture when I played here in the championship. I spoke to him at the end, it was a friendly gesture. He made these hand gestures to me, I did the same to him.
I don't know if I will extend my contract. I have a goal. If we manage to play in the European cups, it is automatically extended. I think we can also from the 3rd place. I told the players that we are the better team at the end. They were clearly fallen. Slimani made a totally wrong decision”, said Daniel Pancu, on “Fotbal Show”, from Prima Sport.
For CFR Cluj, the duel at home with Dinamo follows on March 9, starting at 20:00.
