FCSB Owner Praises Israeli Midfielder Ofri Ard, Secures Him Starting Role

FCSB (Steaua Bucharest) suffered their first defeat of the Romanian league season on August 23, losing 1-0 away to Cluj. Owner Gigi Becali expressed strong dissatisfaction with the team's performance and announced plans for a lineup overhaul. However, Israeli midfielder Ofri Ard received public praise and was assured a permanent spot in the starting lineup, at least for now.

Ard came on as a substitute at halftime when FCSB was trailing and significantly energized the team’s play. In the 71st minute, he nearly equalized with a shot that hit the crossbar. Becali highlighted Ard’s impact, stating, "When Ofri Ard came on, the whole game changed. He will be a starting player. He and João Paulo will be in the center of the field. We will see how to arrange the other positions, but these two will be central."

Becali sharply criticized other players, including captain Florin Tănase, whom Ard replaced at halftime. Becali accused Tănase of lacking passion and declared he would no longer play in midfield. The club’s most expensive summer signing, Ayman Boutoutaou, who was also substituted at halftime, was criticized for lacking physicality and was effectively removed from the starting lineup.

Following the loss, Becali lamented the team’s "dire lack of quality," but clearly views Ard as a key solution in midfield moving forward. This endorsement marks a significant vote of confidence for the Israeli player amid a turbulent period for FCSB.