Article by Daniel Grigore, Maria Olteanu – Published on Thursday, 05 March 2026, 08:46 / Updated on Thursday, 05 March 2026 08:47
Adrian Păun was an important man in the series that took CFR Cluj from the second half of the ranking to the play-offs. He played in 7 of the 10 consecutive victories of Transylvania, he was also on the field last night, in Craiova, in the quarterfinals of the Romanian Cup.
Daniel Pancu's midfielder described the elimination as “painful, especially because it happened in extra time. We had managed to equalize in the extra time of the 90 minutes”.
Paun admitted, however, that the Oltenians “they were overall the better team and that's a deserved qualification for them“.
Adrian Păun named the favorite for the title: “Craiova is the strongest in the championship. By far!”
Moreover, in the interview in the mixed area, he spoke in superlative terms about the University of Craiova, leader in the Super League and semi-finalist in the Cup. Paun considers the white-blues favorites for the title.
“It will be an interesting play-off. It's clear, Craiova leaves as the favorite, because it will leave with a small lead after halftime. We'll take our chances. Now, our realistic goal would be the podium, to be in the top 3, but you never know where we will be. We only have the championship left and we will treat every game as a victory.
[Craiova] is, by far, the strongest team in the championship. It was also seen today, and in the last match here. Well done to them, it can be seen that they have a very good team, they have automation, they know each other very well. I hope we give them trouble. As a game, overall, Craiova is the favorite. Then we'll see,” said the CFR midfielder.Adrian Păun: “We have a different attitude, a different desire”
Regarding the series of 10 victories in the championship, Păun stated:
“It's a sensational journey, not many people believed in our comeback. Even tonight we fought until the end. This can be seen in every match. We have a different attitude, a different desire to win and God rewarded us.
It was very hard, believe me. After every match, I only heard: “We have one more final, we have one more final”. Until there really was a “final”, with Farul, and we managed to qualify for the play-off one stage earlier.
Not many expected us to have this sensational journey. The boys, the staff, the coach, the medical staff, everyone who was there, only we know what we went through”.
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In the semifinals of the Cup, the University will play away, on the field of the winner of the “quarter” Dinamo – Metalul Buzău.
