Tromsø take five goal lead into return after Cluj coaching turmoil

Romanian club CFR Cluj arrived in Tromsø on Wednesday after turbulent days at the club, NRK reported. Portuguese coach Antonio Fola and two members of his staff were dismissed following Cluj’s 5-0 defeat by Tromsø IL.

A replacement was presented but left again after failing to reach an agreement with the club. The teams meet in the second leg on Thursday.

With a 5-0 advantage, Tromsø are strongly placed to reach the Conference League playoff round. However, captain Ruben Yttergård Jenssen is not taking victory for granted.

“We are looking forward to seeing what countermeasures we face. There has been some turmoil in Cluj after the previous match, so we are a little unsure what we will encounter,” he said.

“Our focus is on delivering a good performance, and not necessarily on the result.”

Tromsø coach Jørgen Vik said he did not believe the lead would change the team’s mental approach.

“I feel we are very level-headed, and we should be happy with the starting point we have. But it is about playing the match and living in the moment,” he said.

Vik said Cluj’s recent changes could make the match more difficult to prepare for.

“It will probably not be the same formation as last time, but we have to be adaptable,” he said.

Marius Șumudică, coach of Saudi Arabian club Al-Okhdood, was supposed to take over from Fola. He had barely been presented as Cluj’s new coach before the arrangement collapsed. After unsuccessful negotiations with the club’s management, Șumudică returned to the Romanian capital Bucharest on Monday evening.

Cluj assistant coach Laurentiu Rus described the past few days as difficult, both because of the heavy defeat and Fola’s dismissal.

“It is difficult to start again. But we have to do it,” he told NRK.

“Losing 5-0 at home without making any excuses is difficult. It is one of our shameful results in Europe.”

Cluj centre-back Damjan Đoković was similarly frank about the situation.

“It is a nightmare. Tomorrow we will try to defend the club’s honour,” he said.

Rus said Cluj must improve in the second leg.

“We have to be better. We have to do a little more. Let us forget the first match and focus instead on the next 90 minutes,” he said.