Thursday, May 7, marked 40 years since the historic moment when Steaua managed to win the European Champions Cup in Seville. Beyond the four penalties defended by the “Hero of Seville”, Helmuth Duckadam, the terror that the “military” instilled among the great forces of the continent remains in history, something confirmed years later even by the great Enzo Scifo.
Four decades after Steaua robbed Barcelona and put Romania in the place of honor, Gabi Balint accepted the invitation of GSP.ro to recall what happened in Seville, offering an extensive interview, which can be read here.
The story revealed by Gabi Balint highlights the aura of invincibility that the stars had in that era.
A year away from the direct duel in Ghencea (Steaua – Anderlecht 3-0, in the semifinals of the European Champions Cup), Balint and his colleagues met in a hotel in Belgium with the stars of Inter Milan, where Scifo had just transferred.
“They got us in a rush…we didn't stand a chance!”
While the Italians had prepared rigorously, the stars had come to breakfast after a night of partying in the disco, in civilian clothes and with a relaxed air that puzzled the Italians.
“We were in a training camp in Belgium. It was the last day and then we got that evening off. Inter came to the same hotel with us, where Scifo had transferred.
The next morning, we came to breakfast in civilian clothes, after spending the whole night at the disco. We were each dressed with what we had, because we were going to the airport, to return home.
Some had an omelette, others a beer, let's face it… we had no business! Those from Inter were looking at us and wondering: are these the ones from Steaua, who won the Champions Cup?!
But Scifo said to them: “Woe to us, what we suffered with them there, in Romania! Ahe knew, at least in the first half, they took us into a rush… we had no chance. Neither team would have stood a chance!»”, recounted Gabi Balint, four decades away.
Gabi Balint, 40 years after the Sevilla Moment / PHOTO: Andrei Furnigă (GSP.ro)
I would watch that match with Anderlecht again I don't know how many times. The stadium was full, full, full. See the joy of the people in the stands. After you scored, you went to the stands and saw how they were living the match, how happy they were just because you scored a goal.
This sensitizes me. Before the more important matches, I used to watch and get terribly excited seeing people coming, with flags, with scarves, determined.
– Gabi Balint40 years after the miracle in Seville
INTERVIEW | Gabi Balint: “I don't think we will get to experience that emotion again. Many things have changed in European and world football”
