Article by Romeo Ene – Published on Saturday, 09 May 2026, 23:45 / Updated on Saturday, 09 May 2026 23:45
U Cluj – Rapid 1-0. Cristiano Bergodi (61), the coach of the “students”, gave the first reaction after tonight's success. U Cluj came within one point of the leader Universitatea Craiova, and next week the two will meet twice: on Wednesday, in the final of the Romanian Betano Cup and on the weekend in the championship, on “Oblemenco”.
The Italian claims that regardless of what will happen in these two matches, it is an exceptional season for U Cluj, a team that has already secured qualification at least in the Conference League preliminaries.
He believes that his team will go to the Craiova ground “without pressure”, even if it is so close to winning the championship, an incredible performance.
Cristiano Bergodi, statements after U Cluj – Rapid 1-0: “We go to Craiova without pressure!”
“This victory brings us to the 2nd place and we secure at least the European cups, and then on Wednesday, after the final, we will see another championship match with the title on the table.
I'm really pleased with how the boys handled themselves, especially in the first half. Some players have played less and now they have done very well. In the first half we could close the game, we controlled and we could close earlier. In the second they came at us, passed better and, frankly, we suffered.
We hope we can bring the Cup to Cluj. We won in 2023 with Sepsi against U Cluj, it's a very difficult match, we are two good teams. It's normal that the Oltenians made a more consistent championship, we came behind, I came along the way.
It was a very, very good season, no matter how it ends. We have a match in Banie, where everyone will be, and we go there without pressure.
I have very fond memories with both Rapid and Craiova (no – since he trained them). We fought for the table title with CFR, it was one of the best teams in the last period. The same with Rapid, we reached the play-off very, very well, I was on a roll.
After, a pity, because anyway the work of a coach must be analyzed well, I say. At least left more. But, in general, I have good memories, and the Rapid fans called me, I thank them, but now I'm at U Cluj and I'm thinking here”, said Cristiano Bergodi, at Prima Sport.
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