Article by Alexandru Tomuțiu – Published Friday, October 31, 2025, 4:52 p.m. / Updated Friday, October 31, 2025, 4:52 p.m.
Mirel Rădoi (44 years old), the coach from Craiova, held the press conference prior to the match with Rapid, which will be played on Sunday, from 20:30.
Radoi expects a tough match against Rapid. He wants a victory, so that Olten and Giulești start the return with equal points. He wants his students to be pushed from behind by a large audience.
VIDEO. Mirel Rădoi, before Craiova – Rapid: “He's not the most formidable opponent”
“It will be a close game, an intense derby with a great desire from both sides to win. I hope that the home advantage we have had since I have been here, with only one defeat, even against Rapid, will make the game a very good one for us.
I also have a very good attack and a very good defense. He is not the most formidable opponent. It was also the double with Basaksehir. Rapid is a very strong opponent, but not the most formidable. We respect him, but until the game starts. Then we will have to look like a team that is home, that is pushed by the fans and that wants to win.
If you want to discuss what happened last week and nothing about Sunday's game, you can ask, I won't answer. I think that at the level of motivation both teams will be motivated. Rapid has two results out of 3 to stay ahead of us. In the worst case scenario for us, we can be 6 points behind the first place at the end of this round. From this point of view, the pressure is not very high on any of the teams.
For now there are no batch problems, just small problems that will be solved by game time. Hopefully there won't be any last minute issues. We are waiting for as many supporters as possible. Each time they made themselves heard. We hope that he will be close to the team regardless of the number and support the team from start to finish.
I think emotions are present in every game. It is important that those emotions are positive. That you are playing at home, you want to impress the opponent, to have a fear. The points will be halved at the end, we are talking about 3 points, actually it will be 1.5. We would be level on points if we managed to win. Anything can happen in football, we never know.
I don't think Sunday's game will influence Thursday's. They are two different competitions, we already know League 1, in Europe we are still getting to know the rhythm, the value of the players.
When should I talk to Adrian Mutu? I have the same respect for Adrian. Not only are we former colleagues, we are also friends. I think that at this moment it is not only about Craiova, but about the whole of Romanian football. It is completely missing from the continuity chapter. Even the selector was told after a few results that he shouldn't continue.
If no coach starts and ends a season, it is clear that the training process of young footballers also suffers. You don't make a loaf of bread in 5 minutes, just like you don't finish a house in two days”, said Mirel Rădoi, at the press conference.
