20 years after the duel in the quarters of the UEFA Cup, the players from FCSB, which was then called Steaua, and Rapid will face each other again. The demonstration match will take place on May 28, from 20:00, at the “Arcul de Triumf” stadium.
With the two coaches on the bench, Cosmin Olăroiu and Răzvan Lucescu, and with all the players from that period confirming their presence, plus the surprises Carlos Fernandez and the brothers Artiom and Arman Karamyan, who will come from the USA, the two teams promise another tough duel, just like the ones on March 30 and April 6, 2006, which ended 1-1 and 0-0, with the red-blues going further away.
Former rivals in that double, Sorin Paraschiv and Vasile Maftei participated in a press conference today where they talked about how the meeting between the two teams will look like, but they also remembered what it was like to be face to face in that quarter of the UEFA Cup.
VIDEO. 20 years since the historic quarter of the UEFA Cup! The UEFA fantastics return to the field in a gala match
“It's as if the 20 years have passed too quickly, I can't believe it. It's as if the football career went too quickly. Now we remember the beautiful moments. It's important to have such matches. It means that we performed and that we reached a very high level.
During that period we were two teams at a very high level, which performed well for Romanian football. We walked shoulder to shoulder. Rapid was our rival in the championship as well and she was our ambition if she played before us and qualified. It was fantastic pressure. The same for them, when we used to play. We walked shoulder to shoulder until we bumped into each other. If we didn't do that, there was a chance that there would be a Romanian team in a final. It was something fantastic, which had never happened before,” said Sorin Paraschiv.
Then completed by his former rival, Vasile Maftei: “What happened 20 years ago, I don't know if it will happen again. We had two teams in a quarter-final of a European competition. We are happy to be able to gather two very important generations, which gave birth to a lot of pride, but we always had respect for each other. Now it's about an event where we can enjoy that huge performance”.
At the time of the draw, we would not have wanted to fall with Steaua. We knew what this meant, we knew what a good team we were going to meet. I don't think the shooting was rigged. It never occurred to me that anything happened to the shooting. We wanted to stay together and maybe play the final together. At that time, Romanian football was at a very good level. Unfortunately, it was to be. But let's stick with the joys and pleasant memories of that double.
– Vasile Maftei
We are doing very well with the preparation. We will have to prepare, be in shape. We are in shape. We hope it will be a successful event, we expect many people in the stands. People still remember the performance we did. We want as many people as possible to come. People are nostalgic and don't forget the performances we did. We can't wait for match day. We hope as many people as possible will come.
– Sorin Paraschiv
“All batch confirmed attendance”
Then, the two gave details about which players have confirmed attendance at the demonstration match.
“Everyone has confirmed attendance. The whole lot has confirmed attendance, now let's see who will be fit. We will try to give it our all. We decided to play as we can. We don't want it to end 8-8 or 9-9, as it happens. We will have two huge coaches with us and we are glad that they have accepted the invitation. Without them we wouldn't have succeeded”, stated Vasile Maftei.
“Everyone has confirmed it with us. We will also prepare some surprises for the fans. The organizers got involved and will make a show that people will not soon forget. We hope to do it in 30 years or 40 years,” said Sorin Paraschiv.
The rivalry was very great. At that time, we were also fighting to win the championship until the last stage. There was pride and enormous pressure. Everyone wanted to win the derbies. It was a life and death fight, but in the end, after the game, we remained friends.
– Vasile Maftei
There were two very good generations, with two very great coaches. We were very good. Let's not forget that nobody won, there were two draws. No one was a favorite. They were very good generations. Rapid, with Răzvan Lucescu, was fighting for the title. There were derbies with sparks and it all culminated in that match in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup.
– Sorin Paraschiv
Fast – FCSB 1-1
Rapid: D. Coman – M. Constantin, Maftei, I. Rada – Badoi, R. Stancu, E. Dică (Neagu 77'), I. Stancu (N. Grigore 46') – Buga, D. Niculae, V. Moldovan (Burdujan 64')
Reserves: Mincă, Vasilache, Perja, N. Constantin
Coach: Răzvan Lucescu
FCSB: Carlos – Ogăraru, D. Goian, Ghionea, P. Marin – Oprița, M. Radoi, Paraschiv (Cristocea 66'), Nicoliță (Neșu 90') – N. Dică, A. Cristea (Lovin 59')
Reserves: Cernea, D. Bălan, Simion, E. Baciu
Coach: Cosmin Olăroiu
FCSB – Quick 0-0
FCSB: Carlos – P. Marin (Lovin 78'), Goian, Ghionea, Ogăraru – Paraschiv, Rădoi, N. Dică – Oprița (Neșu 67'), An. Cristea (Bălan 90'), Nicoliță
Reserves: Cernea, Simion, Cristocea, Baciu
Coach: Cosmin Olăroiu
Rapid: Coman – Rada, Maftei, M. Constantin – I. Stancu (E. Dică 64'), N. Grigore, R. Stancu, Bădoi – Buga (Vasilache 76'), V. Moldovan (Burdujan 70'), D. Niculae
Reserves: Mincă, V. Negru, Perjă, N. Constantin
Coach: Răzvan Lucescu
