Manager of Romania's national football team Gheorghe Hagi told a news conference on Monday evening after a 1-0 loss to Sweden in the Nations League that he needs a little more time, and if he does not manage to make the team play then he will resign.
"I didn't come to the national team to argue with anyone; I came to make a team that plays football. And the supporters should be proud. When I am not able to do this anymore, when I have the feeling that it's over, I leave. I'll see, I'll reflect these days. If I'm going to keep going, I'll try to make a team. I'm not afraid of anything. We must have courage to climb to the next level. The old generation must be overcome; that is the only goal for Romania. To create a better team than the generations of the past. We have resources to build, but we need victories. So, I need a little time. Little. If I don't make the team play, that's it, I'll go home. It was an exam for me; it will continue to be. I will try to give my best. I am extremely motivated and ambitious, but I need a little time, and I hope to make the team play," Hagi said after a fourth consecutive defeat.
"Today, although we lost again, I think we played a good game. We could have done more, but confidence and mentality are built over time. We need to have more initiative, run more, fight more and be aggressive on the opponent's turf. When we succeed in these things, victories will come. There are four games in which we haven't won, and the conclusion is clear. Initially I saw things differently, I had a lot of confidence, but gradually I realised that it was work. We have to work hard to be able to fight with the big guys again. The process requires a little time, not much, but it is necessary. I rushed a little bit too; I said to bring confidence and to show that it is possible. In the summer things went well, but now the tone was different and there were some mistakes. Today we ended with a good game, in which both phases were done at a good level. We have good things, but we have to improve them to start winning. We were also missing about seven players... Otherwise, it's better to talk less, because I have four defeats and what could I say?"
Hagi added that the players of the national team must raise the pace and intensity to start achieving victories.
"It has been said in recent months that we are down. Therefore, we have to go through a process, to climb these steps, and for the Romanian players and the national team to gain personality, initiative and winning mentality. We are not far from the previous qualifiers, the squad has a good potential, but we have to speed up the pace and intensity. When we don't do these things, the opponents pass, we run after them and get tired, just like happened in Poland. When you give time and space to valuable players, defeat awaits you. Then (in the game against Poland) maybe I came out too open to the game and that's why we conceded some goals."
He added that Andrei Coubi, Matei Ilie and Lisav Eissat are the national team's winners after these first four games: "From my point of view, we won three players who performed well and showed what they can. Coubi, Ilie and Eissat have shown that they can play for the national team. There are still options in the midfield, and in attack. The national team is never closed; it must always remain open. In addition to the core team, we have to look for young people with good potential."
Hagi promised that in the November matches he will bet more on quality in terms of the composition of the squad.
"If I stay, I have to make the team play both phases properly, with quick transitions. My basic principles are related to possession: construction from the goalkeeper, to circulate the ball until the end. The players must have personality and not be afraid to play on the opponent's side. The boys know me much better now. That's why I called up a squad of 30 players, to see what Hagi thinks and how he wants to play football. We know each other better, and from November we have to bet on quality, not quantity. Now we have lost four games, and to me it's tough, very tough... Let me rest for a day or two and we'll see. But I saw good things in the national game tonight that give me courage. A team with personality plays the same at home and away, like the Swedes did. They have reached that level, we are on our way and we need work."
Hagi is expected to discuss with the management of the Romanian Football Federation and decide whether or not to continue at the helm of the national side
"The team looks better and is on the right track, even if the results don't help us. When you have four defeats, shut up and go home. Let me rest at night, reflect and I'll have a discussion with the management . And if it's good, we move on. It's not just up to me, I'm employed. There's no point in talking about myself now. I don't like to lose, but I came here with the desire to carry out a project... if I don't change something, why did I come? I love the national team and I'm ready to cope with anything for it. If the federation still wants me, we move on. In two days, we will see," Hagi said.
Romania were defeated by Sweden 1-0 (1-0), on Monday evening, at the National Arena in Bucharest, in Group B4 of the Nations Football League.
The Romanian national team continues a weak campaign in this tenure of Gheorghe Hagi, losing the fourth consecutive match.
The only goal of the game was scored by Viktor Gyokeres (13), the Arsenal striker scoring for the seventh consecutive Nations League match.
The Romanian national team lost all four games in this international window of the Nations League: 1-2 against Sweden on September 25 (Strawberry Arena - Solna), 2-4 against Bosnia-Herzegovina on September 28 (National Arena), 0-6 against Poland on October 2 (National Stadium - Warsaw) and 0-1 against Sweden (National Arena) on October 5.
On November 14, Romania will play Poland in a home match and on November 17 Bosnia and Herzegovina in an away match. These are their last two group matches.
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