Article by Cezar Titor, Alexandru Stanciu – Published Monday, 11 May 2026 23:42 / Updated Monday, 11 May 2026 23:57
Claudiu Niculescu (49 years old), the coach of Unirii Slobozia, declared himself satisfied with the game played by his students in draw “white” obtained away with FCSB, in the penultimate stage of the Superliga play-out.
Despite the problems with the license for the next Superliga season, Claudiu Niculescu is convinced that the problem will be solved, having previously received assurances from the club management. Thus, the technician from Ialomi is concentrating on the match with UTA Arad, from the last stage.
Claudiu Niculescu: “The management assured me that the TAS decision cannot be other than to receive the license”
“I tried to convey to the players every day: in football everything can turn in your favor. It happened that Hermannstadt didn't win with Metaloglobus and we drew with FCSB. Unexpected result after this week. In football if you believe until the end and don't give up, it can turn in your favor.
We have to prepare well, recover mentally and physically and approach Monday's game as a real final. It is the match that can take us to the playoffs. We will see what will happen, we have to be aware that it is not an easy game, there will be a lot of pressure, I hope we have a full stadium and manage to win it.
We worked very hard, and everything can be crowned with success, we have to take a first step next Monday. We studied the FCSB guys well, we managed to block them. Except for those two extra-time chances, FCSB dominated us but didn't create any big chances. In the end, it's a point that gives us great hope that we can stay in League 1 in the next season as well,” Claudiu Niculescu told Prima Sport.
Regarding the licensing issue, Unirii Slobozia's coach pointed out: “It's hard! It's normal, there are so many discussions. I also saw what Dorinel said after the match, but I didn't understand when he said there were 3 more stages. Maybe he knows more. I know that we still have all the teams to play the last stage. After that… I have no idea, I don't know.
It wasn't easy at all during this period, these rumors circulated. I think things will be resolved. The management assured me that the decision from TAS cannot be other than to receive the license. We have to save ourselves from a sporting point of view.
I want to convey to the boys that it will not be an easy game at all. We will play under huge pressure and the opponents have nothing to lose. An extremely difficult game awaits us, which we must win at any cost”.
Claudiu Niculescu: “It's not easy at all”
At the press conference after the match, coach Claudiu Niculescu resumed the discussion regarding licensing for the next season in the Superliga.
“It's not easy at all. In addition to preparing the team from all points of view, physically, technically-tactically and mentally, we had weekly discussions about the license case. It's not easy. The players are thinking about what was written, not now, but since this rumor appeared.
I had discussions with the club management. They went out of their way and assured me that we will get this license. To answer directly, it is extremely difficult for me. We have managed so far, although there have been games in this play-out where we have shown that we are above our opponents. We conceded goals in extra time, starting with the first leg, all culminating in the last leg. It was going to happen today.
It was the hardest match since I came here. I was able to connect the boys to the importance of this game, which was not easy at all. Before this stage we were tied with Hermannstadt and above them in the standings, but on paper our schedule was and still is very tough. They played at Metaloglobus, we played at FCSB. But we managed to cope brilliantly.
FCSB is a team that has nothing to look for in this play-out. I would not like to comment more, I want to talk about the evolution of my boys, who showed spirit and sacrifice. They coped brilliantly with the valuable players that FCSB has in its composition.
I accepted this dominance. We cannot afford the luxury of finding ourselves in front of a team of this caliber. Except for the occasions in extra time, on the counter attack we could have scored that goal at the end of the first half, until that offside came. The result is fair: a point that could save us from relegation.
A tough match awaits us with UTA, a very valuable team, with a coach who is my former colleague and friend. He knows us well, he was here last year. They have nothing to lose and we have everything to lose. I hope we can live up to the importance of that game and come away victorious. This point is worthless if we don't win with UTA.
Feelings were mixed. It was an incendiary atmosphere every time I came here. I also scored a few goals when I was playing in Craiova and Dinamo. I have good and bad memories here. You know I miss you. I wasn't very excited, because it's a different stadium, including the exit from the changing rooms was on the other side.
If I gave you a very elaborate answer, I would be wrong. There are administrative matters that I am not good at. We have been talking about the license every week for a month and a half. It was clearly explained to me that we will get the license at the end. I don't understand, it was explained to me.
It's not up to me if I stay with the team if we go to League 2. My contract is automatically extended if we avoid relegation. I don't even want to think about the other option. I can't answer you, I don't know what will happen.
Let's hope we have three weeks left at this point: that means winning with UTA and playing the two play-off games. If I could enter the field and score from a free kick, I was making a change like in handball”.
Superliga play-out standings
