“I waited as much as I could. I hope to go out with the new coach” “Confirm 3 separations

At the end of a complicated season, with many oscillations, Hermannstadt finished first in the play-out and played the Cup final, lost with CFR Cluj. The results and the game shown by the team made Măldărășanu to declare himself satisfied with how the competition year ended and make him dream of a qualification in the play-off.

In a dialogue with GSP.ro, Marius Măldărășanu spoke about the obstacles again, caused by the departures of important players, about how to work at Hermannstadt and why he signed for the extension, although there were rapid tatars, the team he played, and clubs from Greece and the Arab area.

Marius Măldărășanu: “I want the play-off, but it will be difficult because Ianis Stoica, Goncalves and Murgia will leave”

– Mr. Măldărășanu, how was the recently completed season?
– Hard. It's easy to say it was hard. That was the reality, that's what I felt. But when things end well, I remember you with the season. And that's what I told the boys before the Cup final. I told them we would remember with pleasure, especially if we consider where we were at one point. I finished on 7 and I played the Cup final and nobody was expecting.

– What plans for the new season?
– We are optimistic. I think the expectations will be higher, but we must be realists. And there will be changes in the lot. We take it, as every year, from the end. We need to rebuild. I hope to be inspired to choose the players who will come. Will have to replace others well. It's about inspiration.

– Have you set any goals?
-Many people want their play-off, even newly promoted teams. But that's what we want, the qualification in the play-off. I always said we want to be better than the previous season. And that's how it was, I grew up from year to year. I think if I did a season the same would be ok. Now, of course, the goal would be the play-off, but I have to be realistic. There are good teams in the play-off and we have to get one of them. And there are other clubs. We can think that the lighthouse will want to play-off, oil probably and UTA. We need to be realistic. It's a desire, but let's be careful! Let us not fight with the fists in the chest and say that we want the play-off, and then put our ashes!

– You were talking about changes. Are offers for Ianis Stoica and Tiago Goncalves. What's their situation?
– That's the reality. It is still talking, but for now I cannot say much. There are discussions, there are offers. Especially for Ianis. It has the final tournament and is expected because it will increase its share. But I think he'll leave. I think Tiago will leave. And Murgia told us she wants another experience. I talked to him. He felt good here. It's at a good level. There will be losses for us. There are three holders who have had an important contribution this season. But that's life. We are a small team and we have to sell to bring money to the budget. But we must be inspired when we replace them.

Ianis Stoica

– Did you think about what players you want?
-I will not speak publicly of names or posts. But any player who can come, regardless of the compartment, is welcome, and brings a plus and folds on what we want.

Marius Măldărășanu: “There were discussions with Rapid, in Greece and in the Arab area, but I am happy to continue at Hermannstadt”

The coach also spoke about the recent extension of the contract. He says he was glad that he remained, although he had discussions with representatives of the Rapid, but also with emissaries of clubs from abroad.

– You have chosen to continue here, extend.
– I have four years here, I go to the fifth. It's all right, many are not to be said. The club is based on continuity, the same. There were some discussions … Things have been extended quite a lot, maybe on both sides. At first from the club, then, when I came to an agreement, it was a requirement from me to wait until after the Cup final. Were some signals from Greece and from the Arab area. And I had to wait. Generally, in the Arab area you arrive after winning trophies. There were some discussions that made me ask the leaders to wait. Maybe it was better for me. Otherwise, things are fine. If I'm here, it means I have to be here.

– How's it to work on Hermannstadt?
– What is normal here. In Romania, in many places, there are people who think they are good at everything. Everyone wants to do more things and you get to not be able to do well that thing you are at. Here things are okay. That's why I'm here. I feel good, I am allowed to do my job. The public is extraordinary and I want to thank the fans! I do not think that there was in Romania to be a team sustained after 6 defeats in a row. Even as a coach you do not get to stay if you lose 6 matches in a row. Then, as I climbed, the public was still asking me not to leave. And that was exciting to me. These things matter.

– The new contract provides for a clause as the previous one?
-Yes, all the time. I think all the coaches have such clauses. There are normal things. There's nothing to hide. Maybe the clause also made the owners at that time, when they were more upset, to think one more night. Or a week. And he continued with me, and things came back. Not always the relegation of coaches is beneficial. As the coaches need to be inspired, so is the employers to be inspired to change the coach. Continuity is very important for a club. But in us, in Romanian football, there is no patience.

– With fast what was the job?
– As I said, as long as I am here, it means that I have to be here. When I have to be at Rapid I will be at Rapid. More I can't say. I said once that there were some discussions through intermediaries. That's all. There is no point in talking. I extended here. If I was free, maybe I could talk more. But I extended with Hermannstadt, I'm happy. Quickly will probably announce the new coach these days and I hope to go out. More is not the case to discuss.

– Probably at some point you will want to get there, if everything is aligned.
-Yes, very well said. It's about synchronization. Maybe at one point things will be. Now maybe it was a thing. I was at the end of the contract, Rapid was going to change the coach. I waited as much as I could, at the end they had some chances in the European Cups. Things could be aligned, but it wasn't to be. If I am at Hermannstadt, it means I wanted to stay. There were some discussions that have no way of doing your eye. But when I decided to stay, I did it with a reconciled soul. I said that when I make a decision I don't want to be sorry. And now I'm not sorry. I hope to get along quickly and go well in the championship. Last year I had problems. I want no one to go through what I went through, although I finished sensational. After the 16th stage I was in the last place. I finished sensational. When the play-out started, I said we were fighting for rescue from relegation, although we were 8. The bosses were a little upset. But it's the reality! Sepsi finished on the 7th season. We had a sensational end. 1st place in the play-out, 7 overall, and a cup final in which we got up at the CFR level.

Marius Măldărășanu, Hermannstadt's coach, photo: Cristi Preda

Marius Măldărășanu: “There were times when Ianis Stoica did not play because we were gone”

-We talk about Ianis Stoica. It was a complicated period at some point, when he didn't play too much. What happened then?
– That's how we manage it. This was my way of handling a player who was going to play at a final tournament. There were situations where it was not very good, but playing. And there were times when he got very well from the bench. I managed it. He's an explosion player. And such players are exposed to muscle problems. He had played a lot. It was a way to manage all the attackers, especially on it. It wasn't that I was upset about him. Sure, he wanted to play all the matches and he could get a little upset. But this may be good. But it must be realistic. Eventually it went well. I talked to all the players and Ianis explained how Sabău was not at the 1994 World Cup because of an injury. I told him that he, as he showed, will be certainly convened. But if he had been injured, he would not have been summoned! I was trying to make him understand. That he wanted to always play.

– Neither did the club agree that Ianis played a little then.
– And the club … There were some discussions about dissatisfaction. A player who does not play can not be sold so easily. But he had the figures on his side. We had to take care of him. And you can't sell an injured player. That's how I thought and here it was fine.