Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 8:13 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 8:13 p.m.
U Cluj – Craiova 4-0. Gică Craioveanu (58 years old), the legend of Olten, saw the drastic failure suffered by Coelho's students, score 0-4, away to Cluj, in the 4th stage of the Superliga play-off, and he cannot decipher two moments which, in his opinion, led to the harsh outcome of the game.
He considers, first of all, that the attacker Monday Etim should not have made such a mistake, hard, sole, red card entry straight to Mikanovic's leg. As a former striker, Craioveanu cannot explain why the Nigerian made such a decision, even though he was 40 meters away from the goal.
Secondly, Craioveanu has question marks regarding the strategy of Lusitanian Filipe Coelho who, in 10 men, did not change at halftime. The Olten legend believes that a central defender should have been changed and the system rethought, so that the middle was strengthened.
The reaction of Gică Craioveanu, after the worst failure of the Oltenians in the last 10 years
“Craiova started well, dominating the situation, the game, but U Cluj defending in their own half gave little space to Craiova. There were two moments: the goal, a team changes its attitude, can take advantage of this advantage, and then Etim's entry, which I can't explain.
Me as a top, we as forwards, we defend badly. It was a very, very ugly entrance. I'm a Craiova fan, but my ankle and shin hurt too, I felt like looking for my defenders.
It's overmotivation, you're obliged, everyone considers you the favorite, the best team, the most balanced, the boys seemed to me too stressed, they wanted to win the match before time, that's why I say there were those mistakes.
And at the first goal Carlos defends poorly, then a pile of mistakes, just like in the elimination. You are not allowed to take any chances there, 40 meters to your goal, plus tension, nerves.
Not all players can play with pressure. There is pressure in Craiova. They will call me crazy, but that's it. Coelho was right, the battle in a game like yesterday's was in midfield, to strengthen the center of the field, to have possession.
You lose a player on the build phase, which could be on completion, so I don't get it. I expected that at the break he would change, after the break he had to change.
I'm concerned that it's the third moment or accident, it gives me some… it gives me something to think about. There were the match with Farul, the weak one with FC Argeș and the one yesterday. And in 10 the team had possession, had a sensational attitude, you can't fault the boys.
On Coelho's side is the enthusiasm and hunger to win trophies, but it will be difficult to fight an old fox like Bergodi. Look at Chivu, he's fighting 2 monsters and doing well. Enthusiasm took him to where Craiova is now, but he has to manage the less good moments.
At 1-0 you have to do something. To take out a central defender, to do something in midfield. The boys are motivated, I liked Screciu's message very much, a match was lost, but they are aware that they have the best club, the best team.
To have attitude and inspiration, which yesterday they didn't have in front of the goal, you can't do something like that as a team in inferiority. You have to prove that they want from the first minute”, said Gică Craioveanu, on the show “Fotbal Club”, from Digi Sport.
10years had passed since such a hard failure for Craiova, in May 2016, 0-4 against CFR Cluj
The best images from the match
VIDEO » Lukic did the “double” in front of his former team
VIDEO » How the second goal was scored in U Cluj – Universitatea Craiova
VIDEO » This is how U Cluj opened the scoring in the 15th minute
The ranking from the Superliga play-off
