Steaua Bucharest Players Rebel Against Coach Amid Heavy European Defeat

Steaua Bucharest, also known as FCSB, suffered a humiliating 4-1 loss to Latvian side Auda in Riga, following a 3-2 home defeat, resulting in their elimination from the UEFA Champions League qualifiers and dropping to the Europa League qualifiers. This marks a significant setback for the Romanian champions, especially as four Israeli teams advanced in European competitions during the same period.

Reports from Romania describe a player revolt against coach Marius Baciu, criticizing his lack of experience and calling for stronger leadership in the locker room. Anonymous players told GSP that Baciu, a former TV commentator with no recent coaching experience, is not fit to lead the team. They also blamed club owner Gigi Becali, accusing him of investing millions yet ending up with a team that plays like a lower-division side. The players described chaotic training sessions and a lack of discipline.

Becali expressed frustration, stating, "I have become a joke to the world," but refused to fire Baciu, taking responsibility himself. Baciu, 51, who coached smaller Romanian teams and spent three years coaching in Saudi Arabia before becoming a TV analyst, admitted the result was humiliating but praised the team's playing style. Steaua had finished eighth last season, their worst since 1972, and only qualified for European competition because another Romanian club was denied a UEFA license.

In a positive note, Steaua won a Conference League playoff match against Dinamo Bucharest 2-1 after extra time, with Israeli player Ofri Arad scoring the winning goal, though Arad was not included in the squad for the European matches against Auda. The club now faces a challenging period as it tries to stabilize amid internal turmoil and poor results.