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Humiliated in 2026: Costel Gâlcă's Future at FC Rapid București in Doubt
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Humiliated in 2026: Costel Gâlcă's Future at FC Rapid București in Doubt

From Adevărul · (8m ago) Romanian Critical tone

Translated from Romanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • FC Rapid București suffered a humiliating 1-3 defeat against Dinamo, extending their winless streak to five matches.
  • Coach Costel Gâlcă expressed disappointment with the team's lack of ambition and organization, particularly in defending set pieces.
  • The loss significantly damages Rapid's chances of finishing on the podium and qualifying for European competitions.

The atmosphere at FC Rapid București is one of deep frustration and anger following a demoralizing 1-3 loss to rivals Dinamo. This defeat, which marks 11 years since Dinamo last beat Rapid in the league, has plunged the team into a crisis. Fans are furious with the players and management, and the team's performance has been described as a "humiliation and a shame."

Este o umilință și o rușine, nu poți să lucrezi atâtea luni... parcă am uitat fotbalul. Nu mai știm să ne așezăm în teren.

— Costel GâlcăThe coach's reaction after the team's heavy defeat to Dinamo.

Head coach Costel Gâlcă did not mince words, criticizing his team's lack of ambition, attitude, and basic tactical understanding. "We forgot football," he stated, lamenting that the team failed to implement what they practiced in training. Dinamo, despite playing 120 minutes in a previous match, appeared more organized and capitalized on set pieces, exposing Rapid's vulnerabilities. Gâlcă acknowledged the fans' frustration, recognizing their unwavering support and the team's failure to reciprocate with joy.

Însă azi fără ambiție, atitudine și a respecta măcar puțin ce lucrăm la antrenamente e greu.

— Costel GâlcăGâlcă criticizes the team's lack of effort and adherence to training during the match.

This latest setback places Rapid in fifth place, significantly behind the league leaders and struggling to secure a European qualification spot. With only four matches remaining, the team faces an uphill battle to salvage their season. Gâlcă admitted that while the season isn't officially lost yet, the path to achieving their goal of a podium finish is becoming increasingly difficult. He stressed the urgent need for a drastic change in performance, stating that the team cannot afford to play like they did against Dinamo again.

Am fost înceți azi. Când nu ai continuitate, când nu ai oameni între linii e greu să duci mingea în față.

— Costel GâlcăThe coach describes the team's slow play and lack of connection during the game.

When questioned about his job security, Gâlcă deferred to the club's management, emphasizing that pressure is a constant in football. The possibility of a coaching change before the season's end looms, potentially giving a new manager time to prepare for the next season. This turbulent period underscores the high expectations at Rapid and the stark reality of their current form, a far cry from Gâlcă's successful past, including a historic treble with FCSB in 2015.

Înțeleg frustrările suporterilor, ei dau totul și vor să primească la rândul lor din partea noastră.

— Costel GâlcăGâlcă acknowledges the fans' anger and disappointment with the team's performance.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Adevărul in Romanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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