Siyabonga Ngezana and his FCSB teammates have come under fire, with one of the club's former players claiming that the team's central defenders are "no longer at the same level" as in previous seasons.
FCSB have already played five matches in all competitions so far this season, including the Romanian SuperLiga, Romanian Super Cup, and UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds.
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Having progressed past the first qualifying round of the Champions League, FCSB suffered a 1-0 defeat to Macedonian outfit KF Shkëndija in the first leg of the second qualifying round this week.
The result has led to significant backlash in Romania, with questions being raised about the team's overall performances this term.
Romanian manager Marius Lacatuș has accused FCSB’s central defenders, including Ngezana, of dropping their standards.
According to COTE, Lacatus said: "FCSB were very effective defensively in European competitions last season.
"I didn’t see their opponents having big chances to score, unlike what happened with the teams from Andorra and North Macedonia. They faced two weaker opponents.
"Something isn’t right, the key players aren’t at their full capacity: Chiriches, Sut, Olaru, Tanase and the central defenders are no longer at the same level."
"They're no longer playing at the level they were!"
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By Lukhanyo Mtuta
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