After an encouraging performance against Craiova and a point earned in Galați, our Superliga team returns to home action. On Saturday, we host direct rivals Voluntari: the signs of progress are already visible, but securing our first league victory will also require greater efficiency in front of goal.

After an encouraging performance against Craiova and a point earned in Galați, our Superliga team returns to home action. On Saturday, we host direct rivals Voluntari: the signs of progress are already visible, but securing our first league victory will also require greater efficiency in front of goal.

Valentin Suciu began his second spell in charge at Miercurea Ciuc with two difficult fixtures. Although we took no points against reigning champions Universitatea Craiova, our team produced a more organised and assertive performance. Away to Oțelul, those efforts brought a tangible reward in the form of a point on the road. The draw in Galați was all the more valuable because we had to protect it with nine men in the closing stages, relying on outstanding saves from Pap Eduard and a selfless effort from the entire team.

Our head coach believes the main thing to take forward from those encounters is what we learned. The challenge against Voluntari calls for new solutions, but our most important task remains unchanged.

“They are history now, you could say. We certainly had things to learn from them. We looked a little better from one match to the next, which is encouraging. I can repeat what I said at the press conference before the game in Galați: we need goals. We have to score,” said Valentin Suciu.

The unity shown in Galați could also provide an important foundation for the games ahead. After the match, our head coach said we had gained a team capable of fighting and suffering together. At Friday’s press conference, he again stressed the importance of that spirit.

“You could see the team spirit, you could see that we are capable of suffering for one another, of dying for one another on the pitch, so to speak. That team spirit must continue to guide us. There will be more difficult moments, but if we stay this united, we can get through those spells much more easily. Every match has difficult moments. What matters is coming through them as well as possible.”

The dismissals in the previous round will also affect Saturday’s squad: Nino Kukovec and Dušan Vuković are unavailable through suspension. Trif and Jebari, meanwhile, are back in full training with the group. Valentin Suciu highlighted Trif’s return in particular, stressing that the team must make up for the absences collectively.

“It must not show that we are missing one or two players. We have players who can step in for them. Trif is back, which is a major boost for us. We do not yet know whether he will play, but he is fully fit and available. That collective strength needs to be visible in tomorrow’s match. The positive momentum we had in our last game, in Galați, now needs to start producing a result: a win, our first win of this league campaign. I believe we can get it.”

The fixture also carries particular significance for the league table. After twelve rounds, Voluntari sit 15th with eight points, six ahead of our team. A home victory would cut the gap to three points and bring us closer to our direct rivals.

The Ilfov side earned their two league victories against UTA and Argeș, but have lost their last four matches: defeats to Rapid, Universitatea Cluj and Corvinul were followed by a 2–1 loss to FCSB on Monday. They have yet to pick up a point away from home, but Valentin Suciu warned that their attacking play and quick transitions make them dangerous opponents.

“We need to be disciplined, but we also need to take risks. Voluntari are an awkward side to face and take quite a few risks themselves. They can commit five or even six players around and inside the penalty area when attacking. They counterattack quickly and can be dangerous in those situations. We have prepared to deal with that and to be more effective on the counter ourselves — more clinical, to be precise. We have created chances before; now we have to finish them.”

At the press conference, Ódor Máté also spoke about the importance of converting chances. Our defender has already played more than five hundred minutes across eight league appearances and has started each of the last four matches.

“Fortunately, I have managed to earn a place in the starting line-up. Every week, in every training session and every match, I work to keep it that way. This league is very different from the one I came from. There is more emphasis on attacking football, with a lot of one-on-one situations and individual duels. I believe I can meet those demands, and I am ready for those challenges,” said Ódor.

The opposition’s attacking transitions have also been analysed closely in preparation for Voluntari. Ódor believes the spaces the visitors leave behind when pushing forward could offer opportunities for us.

“We have spent a lot of time working on them this week. I think we have prepared well and analysed them thoroughly. As the coach said, they are strong in transition and get a lot of players forward towards goal. I think that could also be their weakness, and that is where we can catch them out. We definitely need to score goals. We have not been particularly good at that so far, but week by week you can see that we are creating more chances and getting into goalscoring positions more often. Our game has changed a little in that respect too.”

FK Csíkszereda will face FC Voluntari in Round 13 of the Superliga regular season on Saturday, 24 October, at 15:30 at the Municipal Stadium in Miercurea Ciuc. Digi Sport and Prima Sport will broadcast the match live. Tickets can be purchased online until kick-off via bilete.ro, while the stadium ticket office opens ninety minutes before kick-off, at 14:00.

Come on, Szereda! Come on, FK! Come on, Szeklerland!