Article by Eduard Apostol – Published Monday, May 11, 2026, 10:40 a.m. / Updated Monday, May 11, 2026, 10:40 a.m.
Cristiano Bergodi, 61 years old, said that he knows how U Cluj must play in the Cup final, on Wednesday, at 20:00, against Craiova in order to win it. The Italian has two Romanian Cups and two other Supercups in his personal record.
U Cluj has reached the point where it depends on its own forces in this electrifying end of the season. First, he will play the final of the Romanian Cup in Sibiu, on Wednesday, against the University of Craiova, so that a real final of the Super League will be on Sunday in Bănie, also between the same combatants.
4-0was the score with which U Cluj defeated Craiova in the round of the regular season, after the goals of Stanojev, Lukic (2) and Nistor
Cristiano Bergodi, before the conclusions: “You pray to God”
For the second year in a row, the “Red Caps” have mathematically ensured their presence in the European Cups. It remains to be seen at what level Cristiano Bergodi's students will develop. But, mathematically, I'm in Europe.
“After 6-7 months of work, I reached a week of passion, in which, until Sunday, we will play two beautiful finals. Now you sit and think, you pray to God, that something goes well in these two finals”commented Cristiano Bergodi in anticipation of the double with the University of Craiova, in the Cup and in the Superliga.
In 2023, Bergodi, coach at Sepsi, defeated U Cluj, also in Sibiu, in the Romanian Cup final. In 2020, the Italian, coach at Craiova University, fought with the Juves for the title, but was defeated by CFR Cluj on “Ion Oblemenco” in that final of the pandemic championship.
“We are meeting a very, very good team that has had a more consistent performance, I mean, they started the championship high and stayed there. We came a little behind, and I came during the championship and had, I think, an extraordinarily beautiful run.
I think there are 19-20 wins in the championship, one draw and only five defeats. We have a good defense, an attack, probably the best together with Craiova, and I hope to win the first final, the one on Wednesday”, commented the peninsula technician.
For the fourth time in the GSP project, Cristiano Bergodi is designated “Coach of the month”
Cristiano Bergodi's motto: “A final is played to win it, not to play well. It must be approached with intelligence”
The first confrontation, on Wednesday, in Sibiu, from 20:00.
“I have an idea of how we have to play the Cup final, because we can create problems. We have a good ascendancy with Craiova, we drew and won 4-0. Even if the result was higher after that red card, in the first 20 minutes, when we were 11 to 11, we were 1-0 and we had a great opportunity through Cristea. We go there confident, a Cup final must be played intelligently.
The boys are responsible, they realized the course very well. I know we're going to meet a good team, but we're good too. You know what they say, a final is played to win it, not to play well. I saw them calm, responsible, without being very enthusiastic, even if the goal we reached is something extraordinary. I repeat, where I started in October, when I came…
This is the credit of everyone: the players, first of all, because they enter the field, the staff, the club. Very good things were done, and the players who came during the championship strengthened the team. Nothing bad can be said,” concluded Bergodi.
