Article by Alexandru Tomuțiu – Published on Sunday, 07 December 2025 23:15 / Updated on Sunday, 07 December 2025 23:40
Pancu is somehow reconciled with the thought that Transylvania will play in the play-out this season. He announced that there will be important footballers who will leave CFR this winter.
He believes that the University of Craiova is the best team in the country, thanks to Radoi: “This is Rădoi's team, one hundred percent, it's not someone else's hand. I'm sorry that he left. The team looks very good. I thought of it as a balanced game, I also pressed, that's how the goal came. I knew where they are strong, that they come a lot from the side, they create superiority.”
Pancu explained the sprint after Munteanu's goal: “When the team scores in these games, I try to give them the same energy. I still have something to pass on. I prefer not to have these sprints on the sidelines, but they have to get used to me too“.
Daniel Pancu, after Craiova – CFR: “It's a fantastic team”
“A draw against a fantastic team. Every point is important. There are two more games, I can't say that it helps us a lot, but it's better than zero. There was also the victory with Rapid, then we lost 0-3 with FC Argeș. When you don't lose to the best team in the championship… I also considered Rapid like that, but I consider Craiova stronger.
I came in a difficult situation, you know very well where I was. After half time we are 3 points away from direct relegation. We have value, but there are a lot of things to fix. I made some uninspired changes, changed the sides, I felt there was an imbalance there. The players did not come in well from the sideline. A lot of balls were coming from the side, a lot of gifts… We have the ball at our feet and, without anyone attacking us, we only lose it with a little pressure.
Cordea and Korenica played a very good defensive game, but when you go down so much, it's very difficult to get to the goal,” Pancu told Digi Sport.
Daniel Pancu announces his departure from CFR Cluj and thinks about the play-out: “Many stay on the outside many times”
“What is part of history is gone, we can come back, there are years like this. We have to be realistic, we can have other problems, we have to accept the place in the ranking. Let's think about the consolidation of the winter batch, many remain on the outside many times. That will help us approach the play-out games as favourites. If we say we are CFR and we have to win matches against weaker opponents, we will have problems.
It is very possible that players will leave, probably very important players will leave. The preparation is very short, only 10 days in Spain, but we will have to find solutions. We will play all the matches to win, I don't want the statements to be interpreted in a different way. But if a mathematician or an AI explains to me what course we must have to be in the play-offs… 24 points in 11 stages?
It's possible, but I'm telling you the chances are very low. I refused to say that word from the beginning. A team that has 2 wins in 15 games, how can they have 8 in 11? It's math. I only talk about the issues that concern me and the players. I don't know about others
To have three coaches in a few months – Petrescu, Mandorlini, then Pancu comes… if you look at the place in the ranking, it's perfectly normal. This point is wonderful”, said Pancu.
Daniel Pancu: “The 7th or 8th places represent the most realistic scenario”
Later, at PrimaSport, Pancu detailed the team's objective: ranking in one of the first two positions in the play-out, so as to contest the play-off for the Conference League.
“If you calculate for me how we could play in the play-offs, tell me the chances too, mathematically. What are our chances? 7th or 8th place. It's the most realistic scenario now, but that doesn't mean we'll play a game to draw or lose. No, no,” he said.
In the same intervention, Pancu revealed that on Monday he will take the final exam for the Pro license. If he takes it, he will be able to participate in press conferences and flash interviews like a real “principal”.
“I'm in the car, I took it to Bucharest, because tomorrow morning I have the final exam for the Pro license. From tomorrow I think I'll enter legality,” he said.
In addition, these gifts… There are some things to change, but the opponent was also the best in Romania. They have many national team players, they win the duels well, they play very well one on one. A lot of confidence comes from there, and the attacking players have a lot of quality. The team is definitely a very good one, it's a top 6 team, I'm convinced.
– Daniel Pancu, CFR coach
