Feature: Antonio Semedo tells of the sensational rise of Cluj

“This club is going to be one of the biggest in Romania”

Rising Romanian team CFR Cluj are continuing to do a remarkably good job of outperforming the traditional powerhouses in the Eastern European country.

The modest club from Transylvania have ten Portuguese players on their books. The Iberian influx have helped the team carve out an 8-point lead at the summit of the Romanian top flight at the half-way stage of the season.

Cluj are therefore well placed to win a historic first ever title, and in so doing catch the fast track directly into next year’s Champions League group stage.

As the Romanian league resumes this week after the winter break, PortuGOAL brings you an in-depth interview with Cluj’s star Portuguese player Antonio Semedo.

Career at Cluj

Cluj enjoyed a successful season last year and have made a tremendous start to this season. What can the club achieve in 2007/08?
Our overriding aim is to be Romanian Champions and win the Romanian Cup.

The best ever finish by Cluj is third. Is winning the title a realistic target?
Making this aim reality and managing to complete the feat is what we’re after. We have the team to do it.

Cluj have made excellent progress in recent years to become a force in Romania. What can the club achieve in European competition?
We are not a force yet because we haven’t won anything, but I believe in the future we will be.

The early exit from the Uefa Cup was a huge disappointment. What went wrong in the tie?
We were all nervous as it was our debut in the Uefa Cup for most of us.

To give our readers a better notion about the reality of CFR Cluj, in terms of the size of the club, Cluj in Romania is equivalent to which club in Portugal?
At this moment in time we are at the level of a Braga, but I believe in 2 or 3 years we can reach a higher level.

Adaptating to football and life in Romania

Is Romanian football different to Portuguese football? Would you assess it at a higher/similar/lower level of quality?
It’s very different. Portuguese football is at the level of the major European leagues, and in Romania we are not yet at this level.

What are the main differences in style of play?
The main difference is in the tactical knowledge, because in terms of technique, the players have it, but the positioning on the pitch is poor.

How would you compare the size of the crowds and the way they involve themselves in the match to your experience in Portugal?
The major difference is that in Portugal there are few teams that play with the stadium full. In Romania the stadiums are always full although they are smaller.

How would you compare the TV/press coverage of football in Portugal and in Romania?
The Romanian press is more focussed on the players’ wages.

Has it been easy to adapt to living in Romania?
It was not easy to adapt to Romanian football. I was not well received by my team-mates.

What were the main difficulties encountered?
Lack of a team spirit.

Is the language difficult to learn?
It’s very similar to Portuguese.

Is there a good atmosphere between the Portuguese and Romanian players? Do you socialise with one another?
Now it is, yes. I now have a lot of Romanian friends.

What do you most miss from Portugal?
My family and dinners with friends.

Individual ambition

What are your aims and ambitions in terms of your individual career?
At the moment I’m focussed on winning the Romanian championship and Romanian Cup.

Would you be happy to spend the rest of your career at Cluj? If you were the subject of a bid from one of Romania’s major clubs, would you consider a transfer?
I’m at a club that is going to become one of the biggest in Romania. As for staying until the end of my career, only God knows the answer.

Do you watch Portuguese football in Romania? Would you like to return to Portugal to play one day? Given the choice, what European League would you most like to play in and why?
I watch the matches in Portugal but I don’t think I will be returning there to play. I’d really like to play English football and it’s a dream I’ve had since childhood. Who knows, maybe one day it will happen.

General

Romania was one of the first teams to qualify for the 2008 European Championships. How do you rate the national team and how would you compare it to the Portugal team?
Romania have at the maximum 4 players that make the difference whereas the Portugal team is strong as a collective unit.

How do you think Portugal will do at Euro 2008?
They’ve got a good chance and I hope they win!

Who do you currently rate as the world’s top footballer?
I’m divided between Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka. I love them both.

Follow the progress of Cluj as they fight for that historic championship title in our Portuguese Abroad weekend round-ups.