Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published on Wednesday, 01 April 2026, 00:17 / Updated on Wednesday, 01 April 2026 00:18
Andrei Ratiuthe right back of the national team and the formation of La Liga, Rayo Vallecanospoke after the defeat in friendly from Bratislava, with Slovakia, score 0-2and said that the team was affected by the health of the coach Mircea Lucescu, and the morale of the players was low.
At the last game of Mircea Lucescu's tenure, Rațiu said that he felt responsible for the team's progress and admitted that he had to turn the page and focus on the future.
Andrei Rațiu, after Slovakia – Romania 2-0: “We made a fool of ourselves”
The national team right-back spoke after the match and explained how the shock of Lucescu's medical problems had affected the players, but that it was no excuse for the poor performance and that he needed to focus on his summer comeback.
“We were all in a bad mood after what happened, especially the part with Mircea. From here we wish him good health and a speedy recovery. I was thinking more about him than here, but that's no excuse, because we made fun again like last time. We have to turn the page and see from the summer what we do and how to adjust.
Asked about the goal phase in the previous match against Turkey, where Rațiu was blamed, the La Liga player said: “I'm responsible for that phase, but if people think we lost the game in that phase, it's very wrong, because we didn't do anything to be able to win and be at the World Cup. I feel guilty for that goal. We go to the clubs now to clear our heads, then we come in the summer for friendlies, turn the page, put an attitude and give a different image, and that's all.
I don't know who will come as coach, but we will all be 100%, but we have to come with a different attitude and give a different image, to be able to do something in the matches, because we make fun of ourselves every time we go out to matches and it's a shame“, declared Rațiu after the defeat, on Antena 1.
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