“He's a footballer. He's not afraid of the ball”

It was the first game for FCSB since the departure of Mirel Rădoi. The champion of the last two seasons had no emotions with Petrolul and cemented her place at the top of the play-out. FCSB have mathematically secured their spot in the Conference League preliminaries.

After the match, Becali praised several players, but he liked his performance the most João Paulo in the middle of the field. So far, he has been used as a left back by Radoi.

Gigi Becali, after FCSB – Petrolul 3-1: “Joao Paulo is a footballer”

“I expected it to be so easy. If you're FCSB, it has to be. I know what happened to us this year. We played too many games and the team was tired. We couldn't make a run in the regular season, quality was.

And something else. A Dawa that is better. Although he got injured and they said he can't do it anymore, he is better than before. Popescu is better than before the injury.

The most important thing is the midfield. Tănăse had grown up. And most and most importantly, the invention of Joao Paulo in midfield. Neither is Lixandru, who gives it to the central defenders.

He trusts himself, he plays up front, he's not afraid of the ball, he's not afraid of the game. That's my opinion, that's what I discovered in this match. Joao Paulo is a footballer, he is a central midfielder.

He was not a left back. I told Mirel, and he admitted, but said it was the situation with Risto. I saw him tonight”, said Becali, on Prima Sport 1

Becali: “George Popescu is starting to recover”

“I also played without Bîrligea. Maybe he will play only in the second round. It is possible that George Popescu will recover, that player who was the best is starting to appear. He is starting a little bit. He is still not that one, but a little bit. I liked him.

We will extend Mihai Popescu's contract. We offer him an extension regardless of whether we capture Europe. Stop saying “no matter if”, stop asking me that. Don't tell me. Anything is possible, but I'm not like that,” Becali also declared.

• Video source: Prima Sport 1

Becali: “Mirel had told me “godfather, take care of Stoian, he will be a footballer””

“I made the decision to enter 3 young players. They can have ideas, but when I ask them…I often ask. Do you have ideas at 3-0? You don't anymore. At 3-0 I have ideas.

Miculescu had run a lot. Mirel had told me “godfather, take care of Stoian, he will be a footballer”. He was telling me from their measurements, they measured it with their devices. He told me to take care of him, that he will be a footballer. It approaches a parameter like Ronaldo's. I don't know exactly, I don't remember.

I told MM after the match that David Popa, Stoian and Toma will make waves in Europe in 2-3 years. Octavian Popescu did not have a sporting life. His private life affected him”, Becali also declared.

For me, even if it's 10-0, I don't want heels. I will tell Olaru and Tănase, I don't like it. We play for football, not for the public.

– Gigi Becali

Tănase is the best Romanian player. But I don't want to say more when Gica is at the national team, so as not to upset him. But I praise a player of mine. It is clear, the man is having fun on the field. He is a high-class footballer.

– Gigi Becali, FCSB patron

“I didn't put Ofri in to have the midfield. I put 3 kids in front, I couldn't give up the midfield as well. I couldn't take out Olaru, Tănase and Joao Paulo.

The middle is the most important, you have the middle, you have the ball. I want players there who pass quickly. You saw that now Tănase is playing there”, Becali also declared.

Gigi Becali: “We're having fun”

“It doesn't even matter anymore, we're having fun. We have 6 games and 5 wins. With these teams we haven't beaten to enter the play-offs.

We will look better and better now that we have found the game formula. We didn't have midfielders, now we found them. That's it, dad, we have a valuable midfielder. When you have a valuable midfielder, the ball is yours”, said the FCSB boss.