In the one-eighth final of the UEFA Europa League, which ended on July 3, Beijing time, Romania defeated the Netherlands 0-3, and had no chance to go further. After the match, Romanian legend Hagi Sr. was interviewed about the match and the performance of his son Hagi Jr.
Sr. Haji began by recognizing the strength of the Dutch team, saying, "Tonight we met a very strong opponent and the Dutch showed how good they are. They controlled the pace and intensity of the game and although we tried our best, we couldn't win in the end. It's a process and every game is a learning opportunity and we have to learn from it and move on."
Talking about his son Haji Jr.'s injury during the game, Haji Sr. appeared calm and rational: "I wasn't shocked by Innis' (Haji Jr.'s) injury because it's part of the game of soccer, a contact sport where injuries inevitably happen. I hope he can get healthy and get back on the field as soon as possible."
Despite the team's loss, Sr. Haji spoke highly of the Romanian team's performance: "I want to congratulate all the players, coaches, supporters and staff. They have once again made Romania known to the world, and from this game we entered a process of growth. They should be proud of their performance on the field. We need more confidence and character and I am sure they will do even better in the coming matches."
Sr. Haji also singled out the excellent performances of many players in the squad, "Many players put in very good performances, which gives me a glimpse of the future of Romanian soccer. We should have higher expectations because we have the potential to create more glory."
Finally, Sr. Haji expressed his pride in the entire Romanian team, "I am proud of the entire Romanian team, who showed tenacity and team spirit in this game. They deserve such praise and I am sure they will continue to fight for the honor of Romanian soccer in the coming days."
