“Worth it, I wouldn't say it's frustration”

Ashley Davis16/02/2026

0 66 2 minutes read

Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Monday, February 16, 2026, 10:34 p.m. / Updated Monday, February 16, 2026, 10:35 p.m.

Claudiu Niculescu (49 years old), the coach of Unirea Slobozia, drew the first conclusions shortly after Dinamo managed his first failure on the bench of the Ialomi group. He is not upset about the result, 1-0 in favor of the opponent, who he had nothing but praise for, and hopes Papeau is fine after leaving the field injured in the first half.

Unirea Slobozia had a valid goal in the 66th minutesucceeded by Carnat, after a colossal blunder by Roșca, but the success was not validated, and shortly after Raul Opruț scored the only goal of the confrontation in Bucharest.

At the end of the game, Dynamo fans they chanted Claudiu Niculescu's name, “Clau-gol”, three-time champion of Romania with the team from Ștefan cel Mare, also the all-time scorer of Bucharest in European cups, with 18 successes.

Claudiu Niculescu, after the failure suffered with Dinamo

“Until we conceded the goal we were fine, then we made mistakes, the opponent pressed us, we didn't get out of their pressure and that's how the opportunities appeared.

I think we did pretty well, I would have liked more, but Dinamo's victory is deserved. I was on the bench, I don't know (no about the phase with Nicolae Carnat and Alexandru Roșca), I can't tell from the pictures, it's not my job, I don't want to talk about arbitration. It was evenly matched today.

I wouldn't say it's frustration. They had enough chances in the second half, I wouldn't want to comment too much on that phase. It is important that we fought with our weapons for 90 minutes. They have very high quality players who make the difference. In the second half we made some mistakes.

I congratulated my students in the locker room, we have to keep our heads up, get as many points as possible from this regular season finale. We are not afraid, neither me nor the boys. We try to get as much as we can out of these three games, then another championship starts.

I have an excellent relationship with Florentin Petre, we have known each other for 20 or so years. I have a very good relationship with Mister Kopic, we talk often, we send each other messages. Since he has been here he has done a very good job, he deserves many congratulations. He took Dinamo from where he left it and took it to the top of the standings, with a chance for the title.

Papeau tried, he felt a pain in his knee, we'll see tomorrow. He's having an MRI, hopefully nothing. It would be a great loss for us. We live with this hope that nothing will happen.

Dinamo is facing the champion. I think that the battle will be between those at the top of the hierarchy: Craiova, Dinamo and Rapid. Let's not forget FCSB, they still have chances. A play-off with these teams would be interesting,” said Claudiu Niculescu, after the match, in a flash interview on the “Digi Sport Special” microphone.