FCSB coach Elias Charalambous has responded to club owner Gigi Becali's announcement that defender Mihai Popescu will be leaving the club. Charalambous addressed the media ahead of FCSB's Superliga clash with Metaloglobus, expressing his thoughts on Popescu's injury and his importance to the team.
Speaking on Friday, Charalambous acknowledged the impact of Popescu's absence due to injury sustained while on international duty with Romania. He highlighted Popescu's crucial role in FCSB's success last season, despite Becali's decision not to extend the player's contract, which expires at the end of the current season.
"Mihai will be out for a long time," Charalambous stated. "For us, he was a very, very important player, but this is football, these things happen. I hope he returns as soon as possible. We have many players who will be missing for this match due to suspensions and injuries."
When questioned about Popescu's contract situation, Charalambous remained cautious. "I think it's too early to talk about contracts," he said, indicating a reluctance to discuss the matter publicly.
Looking ahead to the match against Metaloglobus, Charalambous emphasized the difficulty of every game in the Superliga. "All the matches in the Superliga are tough, but I can say that this year the last week has been the best for us, judging by how the players have trained and the attitude they have shown. You don't usually hear me say these things, but I feel that we are in good shape and I hope to show it in the match."
The FCSB coach also mentioned other absentees, including Dawa, who has been out for an extended period, and Graovac. The match against Metaloglobus promises to be a challenging encounter for FCSB as they navigate injury and suspension concerns within their squad.
Key Takeaways:
- Mihai Popescu's injury is a significant blow to FCSB.
- Elias Charalambous is reluctant to discuss Popescu's contract situation.
- FCSB faces Metaloglobus amidst injury and suspension concerns.