Article by Mihai Șovei – Published Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 9:55 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 9:56 p.m.
Dănuț Lupu (59 years old), former champion of Romania with Rapid in 1999, he spoke about the difficult situation the Giulești team is going through.
He stated that the current coach of Giulești, Constantin Gâlcă, is not a suitable one for Rapid, Marius Șumudică being a much more suitable option for the team's bench.
Dănuț Lupu also spoke about Alex Dobre's statements at the end of the match with FC Argeș, when he said that the tactics changed by Gâlcă is one of the reasons why they are not performing well.
Dănuț Lupu: “Next season I would appoint Șumi as coach”
Dănuț Lupu claims that Gâlcă is a very good coach, but he is not suitable for the atmosphere at Rapid. He believes that Marius Șumudică is the right option, considering that he has coached the team from Giulesti.
“I don't think she's the coach that Rapidul needs. He's a very good coach, very calm, Rapidul doesn't need that.
I am not a great friend of Şumudica, but I respect him for what he did. My opinion is that in his time, Rapid played, but did not get results. He came somewhere in the middle of the championship, but the team with Şumudica was playing. Now it doesn't play anything.
In the next season I would put Șumi. I would give him a chance to prepare. The team from the beginning of the championship, should go to training camp, have time to do something”, said Dănuț Lupu, according to digisport.ro.
Marius Șumudica, the former coach from Rapid
Dănuț Lupu, about Alex Dobre: ”It is the most horrible statement he could make
Dănuț Lupu also spoke about the statements made by Alex Dobre, one of Rapid's key people. At the end of the match with FC Argeș, he said that his poor game is also influenced by the tactics that Costel Gâlcă changed, a statement that Lupu charged.
“To say, 'I can't play as the coach wants and I'm going to leave'. That's the most horrible statement he could make. That's the coach. When he was playing well, wasn't he also the coach? It means that you have a problem, not that the coach changed the tactics. You can't go to the coach and say, 'Mr. coach, I can't play like that. Change the tactics,'” Dănuț Lupu added.
Alex Dobre, replaced in the match with FC Argeș / photo: Ionuț Iordache GSP
I prepare every week, I try to make the most of what I have. Probably the tactic doesn't match my qualities 100% and how I was doing it at the beginning, hence my performance probably weaker than usual. It's the coach's decision, I have to respect what tactics he chooses and work for the team.
– Alex Dobre, after the match with FC Argeș
