Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Friday, May 15, 2026 8:28 p.m. / Updated Friday, May 15, 2026 8:57 p.m.
CFR Cluj is preparing for Saturday night's duel with Dinamo, and the coach Daniel Pancu prefaced the game on the “Arc de Triumf” in a press conference in which he also returned to the strained relationship with the owner Ioan Varga.
The Cluj coach spoke about the form of the opponent and the changes in the Dynamo team's game, but also about the team's goal at the end of the season.
Daniel Pancu, before Dinamo – CFR: “It would have been an advantage for us if Dinamo supporters had not been present at the match”
“We won the final for fourth place and now we face a game where we can get two results out of three to ensure our presence in the European Cup qualifiers next season. Dinamo is a good team, they create a lot of chances, they score a lot of goals.
It is a team that has gained a lot from the return to form of Pușcaș and has modified its style a little. A match with the best team of the last month awaits us. Since the last match with us, Dinamo is playing the most beautiful football, scoring a lot, they also had some unfortunate events, including the goal in the last phase against Universitatea Craiova.
He also showed moments of naivety, with Stoinov denying in the center and scoring a goal for Etim. I don't allow such a phase to happen, but probably in the concept of Dinamo and Kopic it was allowed.
They have changed their strategy a bit in that there are clearances from the goalkeeper in their game. Before the initiations started from the goalkeeper, now they have the possibility of a slightly more direct game, thanks to the return of Pușcaș.
It would have been an advantage for us if the Dinamo supporters had not been present at the match, but I understand that they will enter in the 10th minute“, Pancu said.
Daniel Pancu, a new message for Varga: “I have a head of objectives, not of football”
The technician also returned to the relationship with the boss Ioan Varga, after his attack, who called him “insensitive”.
“I can't comment when I don't know the context. I don't know what chance means. Chance is when a team like Chivu's takes you, with two Champions League finals in three years. He was smart and took advantage of her, kudos to him. There would have been a chance if I had come after Dan Petrescu had won 3 championships. That was chance. They don't come from the street, they come from another level.
We have prepared matches with opponents ten times more valuable than us. If Munteanu scored from a penalty or Mitrov scored with an empty net, we won those matches too. There is no rift between me and Nelutu Varga. He put in a lot of money from home, he wants this club to do well.
I have a head of objectives, not of football. This objective with the European cups is set by me. I haven't had any further discussion with you“, declared Pancu.
Daniel Pancu: “I'm not a slave on the estate. It's a free country. I have the right to ask for things”
About the future and the tensions in the club, Daniel Pancu said that he wants peace and a victory in the next match, after which things will be clarified.
“I really want us to be calm and get a win tomorrow night, then things will be clear. There has been a lot of talk about Rapid, that's normal.
I'm under contract, but I don't want to leave the team by missing the goal. We are in football and anything can happen.
I was the CFR's chance rather than the CFR was my chance. That with the chances to finish it. I am not a slave on the estate. It is a free country. I have the right to ask for things. If I leave Cluj, I don't think we can talk about any young player who worked with me. The culture of the club is different, based on established players. I have the right to be dissatisfied”, concluded Daniel Pancu, before the game in Bucharest.
The ranking from the Superliga play-off
