Article by Alexandru Tomuțiu – Published Wednesday, 01 April 2026, 08:52 / Updated Wednesday, 01 April 2026 08:53
Bogdan Stelea (58 years old), the former great goalkeeper of the national team, was live on the show GSP Live Special, where he expressed his opinions after the failure suffered by Romania in the friendly with Slovakiascore 0-2.
Marian Aioani, in his debut match, made a mistake on the second goal received by the “tricolors”. Stelea said how Rapid's goalkeeper should have managed the phase.
VIDEO. Bogdan Stelea, after Slovakia – Romania: “You can't take risks when you see 4 attackers coming to press”
“In the long term, it's hard to think that those players will be able to do anything. Taking into account that a new campaign will start and there will be certain matches, it's hard for you to think that they will help the national team very much. They are difficult decisions to make, but at certain times they have to be made, I have experienced them all.
Aioani, how to say, is a goalkeeper who has always played well in terms of construction. The fact that it happened to him now is very unfortunate, I can't be so drastic and judge him for what he did. It's a way of playing and you own your mistakes.
There are many things to talk about, the coach is the one who gives a directive, he says that we start building, but in any situation it is the player's responsibility. You can't take risks when you see 4 strikers coming to press. You're still trying to build, it's a matter of judging a phase.
With the first goal, the big problem is how we organized ourselves at the corner. The fact that Bîrligea received the ball in his chest or that he happened to put it in the goal are things that happen. We probably don't have the value to qualify for the World Cup,” said Stelea, on GSP Live Special.
Bogdan Stelea: “I don't expect Gică Hagi to change much, it's not up to him”
He also said what, in his opinion, are the causes that led to the poor results of the national team. He did not expect that the appointment of Gică Hagi as a selector would change things very much.
“That's it, we have to admit it. We end up playing dams we don't know how to handle or don't have the courage to cross. Quite simply, this is the pure truth. I don't expect Gică Hagi to change muchnone of his business.
It's been 14 years since things should have changed, and that hasn't happened. If Hagi comes to the national team, he will be a selector, that's all, nothing more. It is a criticism of the leadership of the federation, for sure. I assume it and I say it clearly. A new generation was to appear in 14 years. They generally appear in 10 years”, the former goalkeeper also said.
