MM Stoica and Răzvan Lucescu recalled the “UEFantastic” quarter: “I have a big regret”

The first match was hosted by Rapid and ended in a draw, score 1-1. Bănel Nicoliță opened the scoring for FCSB in the 4th minute, and the tie was restored by Viorel Moldovan in the 49th minute. The return from FCSB's field also ended with a draw, this time 0-0, and the team then coached by Cosmin Olăroiu qualified for the semifinals thanks to the rule at the time, which took into account the number of goals scored away.

Mihai Stoica and Răzvan Lucescu recalled the “double” between FCSB and Rapid in the UEFA Cup

Present in the Prima Sport studio, Mihai Stoica and Răzvan Lucescu recalled the intensity of that “double”, which marked Romanian football.

– Răzvan Lucescu: Everyone was emotionally involved. You remember that the two of us met on Tuesday, before the return on Thursday, at the Arc de Triomphe. I asked you to give me some tickets. It's strange, we were thinking that maybe people see us on the street talking. There has always been a relationship of great respect between us.

– Mihai Stoica: You played in the last stage with Aris for the title. We were in Giulesti, our match was not of great importance. We weren't watching our game anymore, we were watching yours on our phones and they had a great chance at the end. We were desperate for Răzvan to take the title with PAOK. And now I'm getting goosebumps. Maybe, at some point, when there is rivalry, you take it to the extreme, but here it was more than friendship, respect, it was love. We were desperate when they stole that championship from you (no in 2018).

– Răzvan Lucescu, returning to the “double” from 2006: I was at the beginning, I was young, I had a different way of thinking, a different way of behaving, I was one of them. I would jump and do all the crazy things with them, I would also give my shirt if necessary. I also had a group, we were also at the beginning, full of enthusiasm, the discovery of the new world. How many things I wouldn't do if I went back in time…

At that moment, the moderator Silviu Tudor Samuilă reminded Răzvan Lucescu of the moment when he showed the middle finger to George Copos, after Rapid's victory with Feyenoord (1-0), and Mihai Stoica intervened with self-irony: “This is rather a gesture from my repertoire”.

– Răzvan Lucescu: It was a spontaneous gesture, out of frustration, out of a desire to underline our extraordinary performance against Feyenoord. I owe a lot to Mr. Copos, he knows it, I love him very much, he loves me. He was with my father. Every time I left, I had my reasons, but he cared about me a lot, helped me enormously and prepared me for what was to come.

– Mihai Stoica: I wasn't human then, there was that balance too. There is no favorite. I can say only one thing, and I'm not saying it now to make it seem like an exaggeration: I was convinced that Răzvan and Olăroiu would become high-quality coaches. They were already one step ahead of everyone at that moment. To you, when Bafetimbi Gomis (nr trained by Răzvan Lucescu at Al-Hilal) said that you were the best coach he had worked with, I said: “Do you need another testimony?” He had been France's top scorer. Then I said: “well, let's be serious”.

– Răzvan Lucescu, about Emil Dică's miss in the 87th minute of the return: Every time I see him, I remember him (no laughs). I have a big regret, the only one. There were two balanced matches, the regulation then favored Steaua, now there were overtimes. I regret the absence of Măldărășanu, who was injured in the match with Hertha Berlin.

– Mihai Stoica: We didn't have Jacob. I was most afraid of Răzvan (no laughs). As for players, I was afraid of Moldovan. He was among the few footballers who came from abroad and actually played, there weren't many who still had motivation when they returned.

– Răzvan Lucescu: I don't think anyone would have wanted a duel between us, the pressure was too great. The idea was spectacular. Just like the situation between me and my father (No. Şahtior – Rapid 0-1), at the family level I felt the same way. Then it was very difficult, because I was very cold. I went to them, in Donetsk, in their house, to analyze them in a match with Dynamo Kyiv. I said to the players: “Hey guys, you have to be very aggressive, because they… it's normal, in the mind of any Shakhtior player, anyway, in the end we win, that we are the father's team. But you must not let them play». After the match, Maldărășanu scored, I jumped up, it was normal, it was the satisfaction that we qualified. In that joy I turned my head and saw him with his hands in his pockets and his head on the ground. Then I realized that this is the first time that I enjoy a defeat of him, I was ashamed, I started to cry. It wasn't easy for me at all, some memories from our life came, me with him. It was fulfilled.

– Mihai Stoica: The rest of us were left with the “parental kiss” from the press conference.

– Răzvan Lucescu: Before the match, the referees and the UEFA observer called us. It was my father, it was me, it was Costel Zotta as representative of the Rapid management. They told us like this: “A lot of money was bet on a draw”. Dad jumped at him, started screaming: «How can you afford it?». It was an extra pressure. I think we've seen each other before, we hugged. I know I called him the day before practice because they only gave us half the field to practice on and I was getting nervous. How is that possible? And it was extremely difficult for him to prepare the match.

– Mihai Stoica: Now honestly, I wouldn't do certain things either. I am very sorry for many things. I got down from the box and I punched one and I was very stupid. At least it's good that I'm mature now, at 61 I've reached maturity (no laughs).