Tidy Timişoara steal Lucescu's thunder

Captain Dan Alexa said FC Timişoara had "made history" by knocking FC Shakhtar Donetsk out of the qualifiers, with the UEFA Cup holders' coach Mircea Lucescu urging the Romanian side to "go for it" in the play-offs.

Historic achievement
A 2-2 draw in Donetsk last week left the tie finely balanced, but Timişoara were able to forge on towards their dream of UEFA Champions League group-stage football after a 0-0 draw in front of 21,850 fans in their home city. "We have made history," said Alexa. "We have made people happy, but we have to keep going until the end to fight for qualification."

Encouraging words
Earning a play-off place has already guaranteed at least a UEFA Europa League group-stage slot for Ioan Ovidiu Sabău's side, but Lucescu – Sabău's coach for much of his playing career – urged his countrymen to think big. "Timişoara deserved to win, but they can't stop here," he said. "They should go for it. We lost the tie in Donetsk and several of my players disappointed me tonight, but Sabău prepared his side very well."

Twin peaks
Romania's second largest city, with a population of 330,000, was the cradle of the revolt that overthrew the Ceauşescu regime 20 years ago, and has a unique spirit which is also represented in its footballing history. FC Ştiinţa Timişoara – later FC Politehnica Timişoara – could always count on tremendous support and talented players, with Romanian Cup wins in 1958 and 1980 representing the pinnacles of their achievements.

Hard taskmaster
FC Timişoara's investors pledged to continue that grand tradition, and despite regular changes of coach – with the likes of Gheorghe Hagi, Cosmin Olăroiu, Dušan Uhrin Jr and Gavril Balint coming and going – the city's main club reached a new high last season, finishing second in Divizia A. Club president Marian Iancu justified his revolving-door policy, saying: "I don't just put pressure on coaches but the whole administrative staff because we have to justify our investment, not just in terms of the team but in the infrastructure and youth departments."

Next step
It is a controversial approach, but one which seems to have paid off in dramatic fashion under the newly appointed Sabău, with the elimination of the UEFA Cup holders from Europe's top club competition. "This qualification is only the beginning," said the former midfielder. "We have a lot to work on to be competitive in the Champions League. Now I want a very tough opponent in the play-offs, a team from Italy or Spain."

Magical moment
Sabău is clearly intent on doing things the hard way, but for the moment at least, his players are enjoying their moment. "We played with our soul and the fans were fantastic," said Artavazd Karamyan as he reflected on the 0-0 draw. Forward Gheorghe Bucur, who scored both of Timişoara's first-leg goals and missed some useful chances in the second leg, added: "We hope it will not end here. We are aiming for the Champions League group stage."