Daniel Pancu, the 48-year-old head coach of Rapid, provided insights following his team’s 1-0 defeat to Dinamo in the fifth round of the Superliga. Pancu faced ejection in the 53rd minute due to an emotional outburst on the sidelines.
Despite the loss, Pancu expressed frustration regarding his team’s finishing abilities, emphasizing that they continuously work to improve this aspect during training. After being sidelined for the last 40 minutes of the match, he felt that a draw would have been a fairer outcome.
Pancu Believes They Lost Unjustly
“I gathered the players and encouraged them since they were downcast in the locker room. They have no reason to feel that way. The game was solid until Dinamo scored, which was a very avoidable goal,” Pancu stated.
He elaborated on the events leading to the goal, explaining that the team made a tactical error at a crucial moment. “We had the ball and attempted a diagonal play, but it went wrong. We should have committed a foul to stop the play, and then the ball found Karamoko, who changed the game. In football, not scoring makes a difference. We’ve created numerous chances in these five rounds.”
Pancu noted several positives, but also acknowledged issues, such as lacking a professional left-back and missing players on the bench. He admitted he may have been unwise in making substitutions, particularly with Graovac, who was on a yellow card.
Concentration Issues Among Players
Addressing concerns about wasted opportunities by his players and the opponent’s efficiency, Pancu identified a broader problem. “It happens in these games to miss chances. We’ve been training on finishing since day one, but the results aren’t fully visible yet. There are principles that the players are still adapting to.”
Pancu emphasized that there is a concentration issue with modern players. “In training, we often simulate scenarios like 10 against 2, and even then we average just one goal per 7-8 actions. This is happening during training too, which is why we score only one goal per match.”
He remained optimistic about the team’s potential, noting that dominating a strong opponent like Dinamo provides confidence for the future. “I told the players to keep their heads up. We owe a good performance to our fans and aim to bounce back in Ploiești on Friday.”
Pancu Explains His Ejection
When asked about the outburst that led to his ejection, Pancu indicated that he was frustrated by the game’s interruption during a crucial attacking moment for his team. “I won’t discuss the refereeing anymore. I know the game should only stop for head injuries. Plus, the player left and came back when we were in attack, but it doesn’t matter now.”
“Should I apologize to the players for not being able to support them? No, I am always with them. It seemed to me that the Dinamo player was feigning an injury. I thought interruptions only apply to head injuries; I might not know the rules well,” he added.
Pancu concluded, stating, “I could take pills to calm down on the bench, but I don’t think that’s advisable. I’ve never taken them and I won’t start now.”
