Daniel Pancu, înainte de debutul Rapidului în Cupa României, ediția 2026: Tratăm foarte serios competiția

Daniel Pancu, coach of Rapid Bucharest, emphasized the team's serious approach to the Romanian Cup, aiming for a victory against Poli Timișoara. He acknowledged the challenges of their group, which includes strong teams. Pancu noted that despite being in Liga II, Poli Timișoara is a tough opponent with players experienced in the top league. He mentioned that Rapid is still forming its squad and lacks a stable starting eleven. Pancu highlighted the importance of the Cup for top league clubs, especially after Corvinul Hunedoara's recent success. He dismissed the notion of treating the Cup as secondary, citing Universitatea Craiova's successful dual focus on league and cup. The match atmosphere is expected to be friendly, but Pancu recalled past intense encounters. He respects Poli's coach, Dan Alexa, and appreciates the current group format of the Cup for its competitiveness.