Cautious Valcea coach

"The rain in Spain can cause us so much pain," these are the words the Pygmalion of the Valcea is repeating obsessively to his players. "Expect no Fair Lady in Navarra," Radu Voina warns.

Oltchim showed a great performance at the start of the domestic season, comfortably winning all the five games played so far. On Wednesday, Valcea have also won the big Romanian derby against Rulmentul Brasov, the only other team with a clean record before the game in Romania. On Saturday Valcea will start the Champions League season – away to Itxako Estella Navarra.

"It will be a very important game for many reasons: it’s the first one, we will play in Spain and our group is very balanced. With opponents like Itxako, Zvezda and Győr, every point and possibly every goal matters when you want to advance.”

Voina says he tried to get his players 100% focused on the game against the Spanish champions - a team many people in Romania say can not stop Valce. 

"Itxako are very dangerous team. Comparing to other teams in the Champions League, Itxako have a different style, a very hard one to play against. But on the other hand, Itxako have to worry too. I think Valcea are better team than last season, when we reached the semi-finals.”

"Spain caused a lot of problems for us recently. And not only for us: donót forget they are EURO silver medallist. But victory is our only aim. After that, we’ll play two games at home and if we manage to make the most of these games we can say we have great chances to pass the group phase,” Radu Voina added.

Voina has all the reasons to be happy: his Ukrainian legion is to help the team. The left back Anastasia Pidpalova and middle back Regina Shymkute completely recovered after long injuries, while the latest addition to the squad, right back Olga Vashchuk, finally got her visa and  work permit so that she can immediately start to play for Valcea.