Gigi Becali, the 68-year-old owner of FCSB, clarified his reasoning for starting Mihai Toma, 19, in the recent match against Farul, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Dissatisfied with Toma’s performance, Becali made a decisive decision to substitute him in the 29th minute.
Promoted from FCSB’s own academy, Toma has made 57 appearances for the red-and-blue team. Despite his offensive role and significant playing time, he has modest statistics, scoring only once in nearly 2,600 minutes on the field.
In the recent match, Toma started in midfield but was replaced after Farul took an early lead.
Becali revealed that his decision to start Toma stemmed from a recommendation by Mihai Stoica, who praised Toma’s work ethic, claiming he had run 13 kilometers in a previous match, likely referencing his full game in round 2 against Csikszereda.
Becali Comments on Toma’s Performance
“I put Toma in because I heard he runs well. I asked around and MM told me he ran 13 kilometers. Our fitness coach was amazed, saying, ‘I’ve never seen anything like it. He ran 13 kilometers, including sprints,’” Becali explained on PrimaSport.
“I thought, let’s see what we’ve got here. But what did he do? He hid from the ball, much like Lixandru. When it came time to play, he ran 13 kilometers. He may have run again, but only behind the opponents to avoid receiving the ball.
Playing with fear isn’t possible in football. In midfield, you need mobility, agility, to pass and receive. That’s why I appreciate Gnahore. He steps up, receives, and has game vision. Gnahore plays football,” Becali added.
