Victor Pițurcă, the legendary former striker of Steaua, has taken a firm stance against FCSB and Universitatea Craiova following their disappointing exits from European competitions.
After FCSB faced a humiliating 3-7 aggregate defeat to Auda in the Conference League, and Craiova was eliminated from the Champions League with a 2-3 loss to Levski, Pițurcă criticized the strategies employed by both clubs.
Victor Pițurcă: “FCSB’s Excuses Are Childish”
He expressed concern over the current state of Romanian football, pointing out that local teams are being outperformed by lesser-known clubs from weaker leagues. Pițurcă specifically lambasted FCSB for blaming the referees for their defeat.
“It was a poor week for Romanian teams in European competitions. If our teams are losing to obscure clubs from weaker leagues, it shows we’ve hit a low point. FCSB has been underwhelming for years. It doesn’t matter which defeat was more embarrassing; the fact remains that we lost. We all know that FCSB’s loss was the most disgraceful. Blaming the referee after conceding seven goals is frankly embarrassing,” said Pițurcă during an interview with Digi Sport.
The former player remarked that FCSB’s current state is alarming, suggesting that the team’s weaknesses are apparent. “If they say Auda is weak, then it indicates that FCSB is even weaker. They are, indeed, very, very weak,” he added.
Pițurcă also addressed Marius Baciu, a former player of his, hinting that Baciu is not in a favorable position as a coach. “I don’t want to comment on Baciu’s situation much. He accepted this role, just like other coaches at FCSB. Everyone knows Gigi controls the team and substitutions, and those who accept this reality must live with it,” he stated.
Victor Pițurcă on FCSB’s Future: “They Will Finish Mid-Table Again”
Looking ahead, Pițurcă foresees another disappointing season for FCSB unless significant changes occur. He expressed skepticism regarding the club’s transfer strategy.
“I can’t gauge the new players’ abilities after just a few matches. They may not be in peak physical condition or may not have adapted yet. I’m not sure who is responsible for bringing in players. Trusting someone who hasn’t played professionally is risky. It seems like a gamble. FCSB ended last season in eighth place; how can we expect more?” he remarked.
He believes that if things don’t change, the team will again find itself in the 4th to 7th place range, despite having a competitive squad for the Romanian league.
Victor Pițurcă: “Craiova Lacks Experienced Leadership”
Regarding Craiova, Pițurcă pointed out that Filipe Coelho, their Portuguese coach, is partly to blame for their Champions League exit.
“They have a coach who lacks significant experience in European competitions. This isn’t his first match lost due to his contributions. Leading 2-0 against AEK and then losing shows a lack of experience. When it matters most, we see the failure to maintain a lead. They had chances against Levski but weren’t defensively prepared. It’s crucial to score first, not to concede two quick goals like a lesser team,” he noted.
He emphasized the need for better players, stating, “It’s hard to bring in quality players without paying a premium. Those who are valuable typically do not come from lower leagues. For example, a player from the third tier in France wouldn’t leave if he was genuinely talented; a Ligue 1 club would take him without hesitation.”
Baiaram should be performing at a much higher level. When I arrived at Craiova, he was already there. He has great physical potential, and I expected him to be a national team starter already. He is very strong but isn’t quite at his peak physically. I really like Matei; he has a style similar to Pedri. He shouldn’t miss being part of the team. He is a quality player who was at Steaua when I was there. I regret he left but am glad he joined Craiova.
