Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Sunday, 08 March 2026, 22:34 / Updated Sunday, 08 March 2026 22:36
The starting wingers of Rapid, Alexandru Dobre (27 years old) and Claudiu Petrila (25), commented draw with the University of Craiova1-1 in round 30 of the regular season.
Dobre is the one who scored Rapid's goal, in the 55th minute, after Nicușor Bancu had opened the scoring. It was the 15th goal of the season for the captain of the Cherries, the same number that Jovo Lukic from U Cluj also achieved.
Dobre says he feels Rapid should improve in the play-offs, efficiency in front of goal and timing of the build-up, but remains convinced his side can challenge for the title. The winger on the other side of the field, Claudiu Petrila, is of the same opinion.
Alex Dobre, after Rapid – Craiova: “We have a real chance to win the championship!”
“I am very happy because we had a very good attitude from everyone, the supporters were extraordinary and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts for being in such large numbers. However, we wanted the victory, I am glad that we also got a point, but we have to make better use of the phases we will have in the play-offs and manage to get 3 points.
We have a real chance. He was seen this evening. If we fight and stand side by side, we can definitely be up there and pull off something nice this season. Let's take the championship, yes.
It will be important to make the most of every opportunity we have, to enter with determination, ambition, desire and to make it clear that you want to be a champion. If you go in with that attitude and are willing to fight for every ball, victory will surely come. If we perform like we did tonight and improve on certain things, I feel we can be champions.
We need to be more patient on the build, we are in a big hurry to verticalize. We should move the ball more from one side to the other, be patient, look for the spaces, then manage to attack. But we will improve on that and in the play-offs we will be in the best shape mentally, physically, in every way.
We wanted the gift for the coach to be victory. We are glad that we managed to have the attitude we had, to mobilize so well. I believe that there is always room for improvement. In many matches we could have taken 3 points instead of one or not lost, as was the case with Hermannstadt at home. We could have managed better, but there are things we can figure out in the future and manage to improve,” said Dobre to PrimaSport.
Also asked about the tear gas attack triggered by gendarmes in the stands, Dobre said: “It had become very difficult to breathe, my eyes stung both me and the players from Craiova. It was good that it stopped [jocul]we managed to hydrate and get back to normal”.
What Claudiu Petrila said after the match:
Fair result, very tight and balanced game. Not many chances, but I think we could have done more tonight. The game went in that direction, more on combat. Both teams defended very well. It is a very fair result.
We will see how we will prepare the play-off matches. There will definitely be matches where we will attack more and score more.
And I feel we can take the title. We enter the play-off two points from first place. We are in our hands, we have to play good games and I hope we have learned from the past, not to make so many mistakes in these games because it costs us a lot.
All the teams in the play-offs are very good. The strongest are probably Craiova and CFR, as I felt them on the field. It doesn't matter who we start with, we play in Giulesti and we have to start well.
I don't understand this with the gassers from the gendarmes, it's the second time it's happened. It is dangerous, there are also children in the stands, there are also us, the players… I don't understand what the point is, but they are probably doing their job too.
