What Ioan Ovidiu Sabău asked to his players for Ararat Armenia

The 4th place in the previous season of the Superligion, U Cluj is one of the two representatives of Romania in this edition of Conference League.

The “red hats” will begin their European course in Erevan, in the company of the Vice-Champion of Armenia, Ararat-Armenia. The university delegation arrived today in the capital of Armenia, and this evening coach Ioan Ovidiu Sabău and Captain Alexandru Chipciu participated in the press conference.

Sabău emphasized the importance of a balanced and brain game, prioritizing the result to the detriment of the show. “This does not mean that we have prepared the game to defend ourselves,” assures the University coach.

Ioan Ovidiu Sabău: “I want the players to be responsible and brave”

“After so many years, I have the honor to represent in the Conference League the club that formed me, where I debuted and had the most beautiful memories as players. I want to have them as a coach. I feel a great responsibility and, as Alex said [Chipciu]is special and loads you to see how many fans we have, how much I love and are attached to this team. It's fantastic.

We need to understand how many people are behind this team and how much passion I put on it. We made them proud and we want to make them happy again and proud of us, especially since they made sacrifices to be with us. I also want to see the responsible and brave players.

I hope to find the best solutions, not to be a special presence and achievement just that I got here. It is an important experience for those who have not yet played in a European Cup. It is very important to have that energy, that confidence, that courage you need to address such matches, ”said Sabău in the first phase.

Ioan Ovidiu Sabău, about Ararat-Armenia: “A few good players”

Sabău analyzed the opponent on Thursday evening, taken over by the Portuguese Tulipa only 3 weeks ago. Here is his conclusions:

“We are not at a good level yet, but it can be an advantage that we have already played two official matches. They have a new staff, Brazilian players, Portuguese, new players, but with individual quality. I saw a game in which we could analyze the opponent, to know how to approach the game, but it was too little in a match.

There are many who want to impress the coach, we should rise to this competition as a state of mind, as an ambition. They have a few good players, especially in the side areas. I seem to be quite technical players 1 to 1, quite rapidly with the ball at the foot.

From what I saw in that match, he tries to build from the goalkeeper, make a possession game. This is what they proposed and I saw in the friendly match with Dinamo Tbilisi ”.

Let's be more balanced, more pragmatic. Let's not leave spaces, not to risk at times, to know how to interrupt the game, when I pressing to know how to break it with a long pass. To be very intelligent when we are in difficulty, to reassure the game a little, not to risk especially around the box. We need to use our intelligence and experience a lot.

– Ioan Ovidiu Sabău, coach u Cluj

Ioan Ovidiu Sabău: “Let's think not to make a show, but how important it is to qualify”

As for his teamSabău says that “I want to see courage, the courage to make decisions. It will be very hot, we have to adapt and play very smart. And, being two games, we are very balanced. Great, pay close attention to tomorrow, especially not to get a goal tomorrow. That does not mean that we have prepared the game.”

“We are a team that can no longer be pleased to play in the play-off. We have other goals. It is a good thing that I have increased expectations, such challenges I like.

We have to stay very balanced and think not to make a show, but how important it is to qualify. This should be the goal, not the game. Sure, it matters and how you do it, how do you look as a teambut we have to be very intelligent and balanced.

Neither do we find ourselves at a very good time in a rhythm, as a game, as an identity. We are still in search, so we have to be very intelligent and use the experience of the players I have available, ”added Sabău.

As a central defender, in the context of the absences, the coach of the black and white coach is forced to re-profile a central midfielder.

“I will have to find the best option in the discussion with the two central midfielders, who assume more and which has more courage to play in the central area. Codrea or Artean, because other variants I have. Let's see with whom I will play,” he says.

Sabău is afraid for “Laterals” Miguel Silva and Chipciu

“Capradossi was injured, Cisse, Jasper [Van der Werff]we have the same injured players. No new problems occurred. There are small problems in the side areas, and in Alex, and Silva.

Let's see how much he will take, it is a high risk to get injured. He has no rhythm, he came late enough to prepare. But in such conditions I am here to find solutions. We have a well -organized team and I think we should look a little better and physically. As a game system I have in my mind how we should play, but until tomorrow I will think a little more, “said his coach” U “.