The King Returns to Glory

The atmosphere at Stadionul Steaua wasn’t just electric—it was historic. Gheorghe Hagi, the "King" of Romanian football, didn’t just walk into the press conference on Saturday evening; he stormed it. After a gritty 2-1 friendly victory over Wales, the man himself spoke of confidence, pragmatism, and a hunger for results. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. Romania beat Wales 2-1 (0-0 at half), and the message from the touchline was clear: the new mandate has begun, and it starts with belief.

"I’m happy for the players, for all of us, for the work done," Hagi declared, his voice carrying the weight of a man who knows destiny. "It wasn’t easy. We played a good match, the boys gave everything, and the fans went home happy. This victory gives us confidence, joy, happiness. But in September, the real matches begin—the Nations League. It doesn’t matter if we play away or at home; we must dictate the rhythm. We must believe in our potential."

Hagi didn’t mince words about the future. "Mental strength is fueled by victory. That’s the secret to success. We must believe we can do more. We must have more courage, like we showed today pressing in their half. When we weren’t fresh, we brought on substitutes to stop them from building. We weren’t perfect, but beautiful things emerged—much better than the match against Georgia."

A Ghost Exorcised, A Star Urged On

For Hagi, this victory carried deeper weight. He admitted to pre-match nerves, haunted by the memory of his first tenure ending on this very pitch in 2001. That 1-1 draw with Slovenia cost Romania the 2002 World Cup spot. "I’m happy we won here," he confessed. "Last time as manager, we drew with Slovenia here and lost qualification. I had thoughts before the match, but it went very well. First for the players, they won. Our planning was excellent."

The "King" also turned his attention to Florinel Coman, the winger currently with Al Gharafa in Qatar. Hagi’s message was blunt: play or perish. "Florinel Coman isn’t 100% yet. He looked better than against Georgia because he trained more with us. I felt he was better. I told him he must find a team where he plays. He needs a coach who loves him. A player needs a team; he can’t play alone. I spoke with him and told him it’s fundamental to find a team to play. He’s an important national team player, he has talent, and it’s a pity to lose players so easily."

The stage is set. The ghost of 2001 is gone. Hagi’s Romania is awake, pragmatic, and hungry. September awaits.