Hagi's Five Criteria for Romanian Players: 'One Better Than All!' Coach Targets Group Win and Top Opponents

Gică Hagi, the newly appointed coach of the Romanian national football team, has detailed his approach to player selection, emphasizing a five-tier system: good, very good, excellent, fantastic, and genius. Hagi stated that only players meeting the higher tiers will make the national team, aiming to secure the top spot in their Nations League group and face elite competition.

During a press conference on Monday, August 17, Hagi addressed his plans for the national team. He also spoke about potentially convincing young Romanian players, aged 14-16, who are playing abroad to represent Romania instead of other nations. Hagi clarified that such intervention is only meaningful for players who have been consistently monitored and evaluated.

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I am working for Romania, be 100% sure I will do this job. If it's about something special, because at the national teams, those who... you know my 5 selection steps? For me, there is no weak! There is good, very good, excellent, fantastic, and genius. So on these 5 criteria, I select players. Good and very good means they are team players, and the others in the respective categories make the difference. So... as I see things, age doesn't matter. I am at the federation and we must find the players God has given talent to, who can and want to, those who want it fully, not part-time!

"I am working for Romania, be 100% sure I will do this job," Hagi declared. "If it's about something special, because at the national teams, those who... you know my 5 selection steps? For me, there is no weak! There is good, very good, excellent, fantastic, and genius. So on these 5 criteria, I select players. Good and very good means they are team players, and the others in the respective categories make the difference. So... as I see things, age doesn't matter. I am at the federation and we must find the players God has given talent to, who can and want to, those who want it fully, not part-time!"

Hagi's primary objective is to win the group, stating, "The number 1 objective is to win the group, there is no other objective. We want to win the group, win all the matches, we know we face good teams. I want us to reach the top group, so I have the opportunity to test myself and duel with the coaches!"

“

The number 1 objective is to win the group, there is no other objective. We want to win the group, win all the matches, we know we face good teams. I want us to reach the top group, so I have the opportunity to test myself and duel with the coaches!