The Verdict from the Old Guard

The dust has barely settled on the dramatic appointment of Marius Baciu at FCSB, and the whispers are already deafening. Victor Pițurcă, the legendary former manager of the Romania national football team, has stepped forward with a verdict that cuts straight to the bone. At 70 years old, Pițurcă holds no illusions about the power dynamics in the red-and-blue locker room. His message is stark: Baciu is a coach in name only.

After weeks of chaos following the rejection of Cypriot candidate Elias Charalambous, owner Gigi Becali finally turned to Baciu. The gamble paid off immediately with a thrilling 4-3 victory over FC Botoșani in the UEFA Conference League playoff semi-final. But Pițurcă sees beyond the scoreboard. He argues that Becali, now 67, remains the true architect of every matchday lineup and substitution. "We all know who picks the team," Pițurcă stated bluntly. "It is a shame to say it, but right now, he is a coach by name only."

A Figurehead Under Pressure

Pițurcă, who debuted Baciu with the Romanian U21 side, acknowledges his former pupil hasn't coached in years but retains football intelligence. Yet, the hierarchy is immovable. With the decisive derby against Dinamo București looming on Friday, May 29, at 20:30 at Arcul de Triumf, the stakes could not be higher. This clash determines the final European spot, and Baciu must navigate the minefield of Becali’s interference while keeping his squad disciplined.

Baciu knows the perception is dangerous. To survive, he must project authority. Following the Botoșani win, he did exactly that, unleashing a scathing critique of his midfield. He singled out captain Florin Tănase and Iulian Olaru for failing to drop back into a 4-4-2 shape during defensive transitions. "I asked for balance with João Paulo in front of the center-backs," Baciu insisted. "We made mistakes that are unacceptable when leading 3-1. We were not as sharp as we needed to be." The pressure is on. Can Baciu assert control before Becali’s shadow swallows the tactics whole?