2008/2009 Season Review

Last season, the league and cup titles set the bar very high, perhaps too high prematurely, so it seemed doubtful that CFR Cluj would attain the same performances. Due to this, the 2008/09 season certainly appears to be a disappointing one. The pain from a poor fourth place finish in Liga 1, was somewhat alleviated with a triumph in the Romanian Cup. CFR will not play in the Champions' League again this year, but the newly revamped UEFA Cup, the Europa League, seems to be a potential goldmine of fame and fortune. In short, nothing is lost. Performances in Europe can still be attained and next year's title is up for grabs.

Left: Veni, Vidi, Vici. Culio scored both Cluj goals at Rome.

CFR began the season very well with two victories at Otopeni and with Buzau in Gruia. After that, though, much of Ioan Andone's accomplishments seemed to fall apart. Two losses and two draws in the next four fixtures led to Andone's sacking and 11th spot after six rounds. Andone's assistant, Maurizio Trombetta then took the reins (even though he had never been a head coach before). Having gotten to know the players for several months since his arrival in June 2008, Trombetta set out to organize them as best he could in light of the upcoming Champions' League campaign. His first match as head coach ended up with a lucky CFR victory (2-1) at Bistrita. 

Then, CFR travelled to Rome to play AS Roma in Matchday 1 of CL Group A. Everyone expected the team to lose. There was virtually no hope that the newcomers, the outsiders would be able to hold Roma. This seemed to likely be the case as Roma scored early on. However, something then happened which shocked everybody. Two goals from Juan Emmanuel Culio gave Cluj a well-earned victory. It was the perfect start. 

Right: Maurizio Trombetta during the press conference after 0-0 with Chelsea.

The next match was with another European powerhouse, Chelsea FC, at Cluj. The final result was 0-0, even though both sides could have put it away late in the game. However, that was the end. Two losses to Girondins Bordeaux, and one loss each to Roma and Chelsea put CFR in 4th spot out of four teams. Still, in all six of the matches CFR always looked like they could pull away a good result. They always seemed as if they were able to keep up with their more well-known opponents and even defeat them. This strength in the face of adversity was admired by all. This was true football.

CFR played their matches in the CL with the following starting eleven in a 4-2-3-1 formation:

Stancioiu (N. Claro) - Tony (Panin), Cadu, Galiassi (Alcantara), Pereira - Muresan, Dani (Peralta) - Dubarbier, Trica, Culio - Y. Kone

Meanwhile, CFR's performance in Liga 1 was very inconsistent. Wins against Dinamo and Urziceni were coupled with inexplicable losses at Pandurii and odd draws with Otelul Galati and Steaua. So, by the winter break Cluj sat in a less-than-spectacular fourth place. 

Left: CFR Cluj - FC Vaslui 3-0

The winter transfers were not all that useful as the spring retour was to prove. Only Bogdan Mara truly adapted and succeeded at Cluj, eventually earning a national team call-up. Most importantly, a new coach was brought in. Dusan Uhrin Jr. had coached Timisoara before being kicked out. He joined fellow countryman, Ales Jindra, in leading Cluj during the first part of the retour.

Uhrin and Jindra's mandate was marred by poor results and lousy plays. A humiliating 1-4 loss at "U" Craiova, as well as several draws, led to the duo's sacking (which oddly enough was right after a 3-0 home victory over FC Vaslui). Something sinister was rumoured to be occurring at Cluj. The players were thought to be in open revolt against Uhrin's iron-fisted policies and brutal training sessions. 

Right: Antonio Conceicao shortly after being presented as coach.

So, the executive board decided to replace the Czechs with Antonio Conceicao, a former Portuguese international with FC Porto. Conceicao's results were poor at first, but by the end of the season he had managed to improve the general atmosphere in the dressing room and bring CFR back to fourth place. In mid-June, CFR Cluj also capped the season off with a clear 3-0 victory in the cup final against FC Timisoara and Conceicao's place as coach seemed quite secure.

Overall, the 2008/09 season was a roller-coaster ride. The glory after the victories at Rome and in the cup final were mired by losses to Bordeaux and "U" Craiova. While a fourth place finish in Liga 1 is not too bad, CFR Cluj could have done much better. On a positive note, the club has become much better known throughout Europe and is continually attracting new fans. Combined with an increasingly powerful youth academy, CFR 1907 has truly (at least by Romanian standards) become a powerhouse of football.

        Next match:

Sept. 11/2010

7th Round 2010/11

Rapid - CFR Cluj  

Cluj-Napoca

Aug. 2 8/2010 

CFR Cluj-Pandurii

2-1

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