FCSB owner gives explosive interview after losing against Manchester United in Europa League
FCSB's owner felt his team were a "punching bag" against Manchester United Thursday night.
United faced FCSB in their final Europa League league phase fixture and claimed a comfortable 2-0 victory in Bucharest thanks to goals from Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo.
The match was goalless at half-time, but United remained patient and eventually found a breakthrough after a brilliant pass from Mainoo across the box to Dalot on the hour mark.
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Shortly after that, Mainoo made it 2-0 with a composed finish and United finished the night with an impressive 70 per cent possession. Remarkably, the win also meant United were the only side to maintain an unbeaten record in the Europa League after playing eight league phase games.
United were good value for their victory at the National Stadium, although that didn't stop FCSB's owner from getting out of his Rolls Royce to complain to journalists outside the ground.
Gigi Becali is famous in Romania for being quite the character. He spent just under four minutes speaking to reporters about the game and what went wrong for FCSB against Ruben Amorim's side.
"As long as I'm in football, you will never see five defenders again! Never! When you get to the situation of playing with Manchester, you have to leave the specialists there," Becali told Sport.
"Especially since Charalambous [the FCSB manager] is friends with a coach from England. He received information. They thought of a game strategy. I don't claim to be a specialist. I don't want football like that.
"If we didn't play with five in defence maybe we would have scored more goals! But I never play with five in defence anymore. I don't play anymore! Well, what am I? A punching bag?
"I want to watch football, I want to play football. I'm not interested in being a punching bag. We played with five [defenders] and three [defensive midfielders]. There are eight without technical quality. Can you do anything with two players?"
Becali continued: "They [United] played with three on the back line, but they were only with defenders in the middle of the field. Unfortunately, we can't beat teams like that. I convinced myself tonight. I'm frustrated that I can't beat them. I feel helpless. And I don't like being helpless.
"I congratulate them [his players] for their fight, for their dedication. But one thing is one, another is another. I won't play with five on my back even if we meet the world team!
"I press differently in a different system. I can also connect three passes. In our case, who will score with United? Bîrligea and Tănase? How? In two attackers?
"I liked it in the stadium. But I don't go anymore. But with PAOK, if we lose to them, maybe I will go. Why should I go anymore? To stay in the cold and leave beaten? Maybe it's better for us now. Because we have another home game and, if we meet PAOK, maybe we'll get another million from ticket sales."
