Article by Adrian Duţă – Published on Saturday, 09 May 2026, 08:03 / Updated on Saturday, 09 May 2026 08:08
CFR Cluj – Craiova University 0-0. Emil Săndoi, former coach of Mihai Rotaru's team between 2014-2016, analyzed the draw in Gruia, on GSP Live Special.
The former international believes that the chances of Filipe Coelho's team for the title increased after the draw with CFR Cluj.
Emil Săndoi: “Craiova took CFR Cluj out of the calculations. Let no one be deceived that the chances have increased for U Cluj”
“I think that Universitatea Craiova remains the best and most consistent team in the championship, even if it didn't have a special day. In the end, the result is important.
It's a positive result. You can never know in football what the results are in the competitors. Craiova left another team out of the calculations, I mean CFR, which would have come within two points if they had won.
I'm curious to see U Cluj – Rapid. The advantages remain on Craiova's side. No one should be fooled that the chances have increased for U Cluj. No, the chances decreased after Craiova's result with CFR Cluj. With this point, Craiova increased its chances of winning the title“, said Săndoi, at GSP Live Special.
Emil Săndoi: “Pancu was inspired”
Săndoi kept praising CFR Cluj and Daniel Pancu, the Transylvanian coach, who changed the system and started with 3 central defenders in front of Olten.
“I want to emphasize the good evolution that CFR Cluj had. Pancu was inspired when he chose the game system, but also in the changes. The changes themselves brought a plus. Korenica, who had not had a special first half, was taken out and Biliboc entered, Braun participates well in the offensive phase, he has vitality and speed.
They kept the way they started the game. In the end, he changed the system, out of the desire to award his 3 points. From a coach's point of view, he did pretty much everything he could.
Even if it wasn't a spectacular match, CFR Cluj played a very good game from a tactical point of view. They had matches won by chance, when the opponent created many chances.
In this game, Craiova didn't really have any opportunities, so a plus for CFR. Let's be realistic. They prepared the game very well, they didn't risk much. As if at the end of the season the freshness was not at the highest levels, and we saw that in Craiova as well.
CFR was a more than disciplined team, they played very well a score that they trained, had few cracks in defense. Of all the games played by CFR Cluj against Craiova this season, this is the best,” Săndoi said.
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