Article by Romeo Ene – Published on Monday, 16 March 2026, 21:03 / Updated on Monday, 16 March 2026 21:04
FC Botoșani – Unirea Slobozia 3-2. Claudiu Niculescu (49 years old), the coach of the guests, offered the first reaction after the dramatic failure in Moldova. His team led 2-1, had an extra man, but conceded two goals in the 89th and 90+1 minutes.
The technician struggled to find the words in the flash interview and stated that he will try to lift the morale of the players. He claims that his team lost 3 huge points in the economy of the ranking and did not take the goalkeeper Denis Rusu for the blunders in the goals.
Besides, the goalkeeper had come to the flash-interview with tears in his eyes, unable to continue it until the end.
Claudiu Niculescu, statements after FC Botoșani – Unirea Slobozia 3-2: “The match was flowing towards a victory”
“There is not much to say. The frustration is great. To lose such a match in such a manner. It is hard to find the words. It is terrible. We have lost 3 huge points in the economy of the ranking.
I will try to lift the morale of the players. I managed to do it until today's game. We had great chances to make it 3-1, but we couldn't do it.
We missed some big chances but the game was flowing…we were dominated territorially. We were afraid, but we were good defensively. The opponents did not create any great opportunities. This is what we saw from the ground level. The match was flowing towards a victory which gave us great morale.
(no about Denis Rusu) I will never accuse the players in public. It's clear that his morale is on the ground, but we have to move on. I will take it from 0 this week with the morale of the players, I hope to succeed until the match with Oțelul”, said Niculescu, according to digisport.ro.
Following this failure, Unirea Slobozia remains in 14th place, the second that secures the presence in the reserve barrier, with 13 points. On the other hand, FC Botoșani climbed to 8th place, with 24.
For Slobozia, the duel at home with Oțelul Galați follows on March 23.
Ranking up to date from the play-out
