Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Monday, March 30, 2026 7:40 p.m. / Updated Monday, March 30, 2026 8:42 p.m.
Ionel Gane (54 years old), Mircea Lucescu's second coach at the national team, spoke in the press conference prior to Tuesday night's duel in Bratislava, in the friendly match against Slovakia. “Jerry” Gane takes the selector's place, after he had medical problems and continues to be admitted to the Emergency University Hospital in Bucharest.
Ionel Gane explained the situation of the team and how the staff and players prepare for the match. The second coach emphasized that the team is motivated and focused for the friendly on Tuesday night, that the mood has improved after yesterday's difficult moments and that the staff is focused on mobilizing the players to bring joy to Mircea Lucescu.
Ionel Gane, before Slovakia – Romania: “We are thinking of bringing joy to nea Mircea”
Gane explained the team's situation and how the staff and players are preparing for the match:
“We are fine because Mircea is also fine, and the mood has changed for the better, because yesterday there were quite difficult moments. My thought is only for tomorrow's game. Both I and my staff must mobilize the team to the maximum. Even if it is a friendly match, we will have to treat it very seriously, because we are thinking first of all to bring joy to nea Mircea, and then we will see.”
Asked if he will continue with the next coach, Gane said:
“I was here for 3 mandates, with Cosmin Contra, and with Edi now, and it's an honor to work with Mircea Lucescu, and for me it's a joy and an honor to be part of Romania's staff.”
Gane admitted there were emotions, but normal given the circumstances:
“Yes, there are emotions, but normal. There were emotions when I was a player and part of the national team. It's just a coincidence that Mircea's presence is not here, but these are normal emotions. After all, we are playing an international match, we represent Romania and we will give everything to the maximum.”
VIDEO. Ionel Gane: “Mircea Lucescu continues to show us a life lesson”
Regarding missing out on World Cup qualification, Gane said:
“It affected me, because the qualification was very important to me, but it was not possible. The boys gave it their all. We have to move on, life and football don't stop here. We move on, because there will be other battles to win. The boys learned from all these matches. For me, this failure to qualify for the World Cup is like a scar that will surely heal over timebut we can only go forward with our heads held high and bring more victories for Romania.
Mircea Lucescu showed us and continues to show us a life lesson through what he transmitted and continues to transmit. Even this morning, his passion, his ardor, every moment he has with us and with the team, I think he is unique in his own way and special. He is a huge man, I think he is a unique coach. And, at the same time, I hope that tomorrow we will make him happy, and when we meet again we will be calmer.”
Finally, “Jerry” Gane talked about how the selector reacted after the unpleasant event and how he sent him encouragement from the hospital:
“Yesterday, before take off, he called me from the hospital, he was feeling good, and the first thing he asked me was how the training was. I told him that I canceled it after the unpleasant event and then he said: «Tell the boys to keep calm and have a good game tomorrow». And this morning I talked to him and he was better. We'll talk after training because he'll have to make a decision for tomorrow's game. That's why I say his way of life is an example for all of us, how he lives for football,” Gane said at the press conference ahead of the match against Slovakia.
