Raul Opruț, a 28-year-old left-back for Dinamo, has shared his thoughts ahead of the highly anticipated derby against Rapid, scheduled for Saturday evening at 21:30 in the fifth round of the Superliga.
The fifth round of the new season pits two prominent Bucharest teams against each other, with Rapid hosting Dinamo at a stadium expected to be full during the match.
Opruț expressed his excitement about the upcoming clash and the atmosphere that typically accompanies such fixtures. He pointed out that Romanian football struggles with attendance issues, particularly in matches that do not feature high-profile teams.
Opruț’s Insights Before the Derby
“We have prepared this week by analyzing Rapid’s team thoroughly and doing everything necessary to win this match and implement what we practiced during training,” Opruț stated.
He anticipates a vibrant derby atmosphere, asserting, “It should be a pleasure for both us and the Rapid players to experience such an environment. Every Superliga player desires full stands at every match, not just the derbies.”
Opruț lamented the lack of consistent crowd support in Romania, observing, “We suffer a lot in this regard. Only during derbies do the stadiums fill up; we lack a culture of filled stands for all matches, regardless of the opponent.”
Regarding the derby’s dynamics, he noted, “There’s no clear favorite; it will heavily depend on how both teams present themselves at game time. The mental aspect will also be crucial, as will the level of personality and courage we have to perform well.”
Opruț acknowledged Rapid’s tactical changes under their new coach, saying, “They have revamped their playing style compared to last year. Coach Pancu has instilled a team mentality, and it’s evident in their strong performances in the early rounds.”
Proposal for Derby Relocation
Looking ahead to another significant match, Opruț was asked about the derby against FCSB on September 5. Due to the unavailability of the National Arena, the clubs agreed to move the match to Cluj-Napoca.
Opruț suggested that Dinamo should organize transport for fans traveling from Bucharest, particularly for season ticket holders: “Unfortunately, we won’t be able to play this derby in Bucharest. Everyone wanted to play at the country’s largest stadium, as it is the most important derby in Romania, but I’m also very pleased for the Dinamo community in Transylvania.”
He added, “It’s a chance for fans in Transylvania and Banat to enjoy such a match. We hope the stadium is sold out, and we would greatly appreciate their support.”
Addressing the need for a solution for Bucharest supporters, he said, “I hope the club finds a way to provide transport for them, especially the season ticket holders, as they deserve it for their loyalty.”
Opruț also commented on the transition under new coach Nuno Campos, who replaced Zeljko Kopic this summer, saying, “We are still in the early stages; it’s a long process, but we are trying to be as consistent as possible throughout the matches.”
He concluded, “We’re not at 100% yet. We have had good moments and some where we haven’t performed as needed. We are starting to adapt to the new coaching style, which is quite different from what we played the past two years. Initially, it was challenging to grasp his ideas, but now we are starting to see the results of our hard work in training.”
