Ilie Dumitrescu said where the difference was made in the Cup final: “It was their advantage”
Article by Mihai Șovei – Published on Thursday, 14 May 2026, 09:23 / Updated on Thursday, 14 May 2026 09:23
Cluj University – Craiova University 0-0 after 120 minutes6-5 on penalty kicks, in the final of the Romanian Betano Cup. Ilie Dumitrescu (57 years old), former Romanian international, spoke about what made the difference in the last act of the competition.
He stated that the difference between the two teams was made at the group level, where the one coached by Filipe Coelho is superior.
Ilie Dumitrescu: “It is extremely important to have a valuable lot”
“A fighting match, a balanced match, even if possession was Craiova's. In the end, the way you manage these two matches also matters. In Craiova, you can start the game with Bairam, Etim and Băsceanu, that is, a trio that is not basic.
It is extremely important to have a valuable lot. How you prepare it also matters. Of the six who batted, 4 came off the bench. This aspect is also important. A solid team on the defensive side. It was an intense, well-paced final.
I was looking at Gertmonas, I thought he was on a better evening at 11 meters. He went for all the balls, but they executed with personality. I thought U Cluj would win, but Laurențiu Popescu guessed the corner. At Trică he left late, but at Cristea he pushed well. It is the advantage of the team that has a numerically more valuable lot“, declared Ilie Dumitrescu, according to digisport.ro.
30million euros, the amount at which the University of Craiova lot is valued, according to Transfermarkt
After the final match of the Romanian Cup, the two teams meet at the weekend, in a duel that can decide the title in the Super League. Craiova University – U Cluj, was scheduled for May 17, from 8:30 p.m.
It's a nice feeling for everyone, because we worked hard. The whole city deserved this trophy. I worked a lot. When you reach the final, one of the teams wins and the other loses. I think we deserved to win in regulation time, but it came down to penalty kicks.
It is important now to keep our feet on the ground. A very difficult match is coming up and we will prepare for it. It won't be easy, there is no easy game in the play-offs, but we will give it our all.
– declared Filipe Coelho, at the end of the match between U Cluj and Craiova University
