Kevin Ciubotaru has revealed he joined Dundee United because he has unfinished business in Scotland. The Romanian international moved to Tannadice from Hermannstadt. The 22-year-old came through the ranks at Rangers but did not get the chance to make the first-team grade at Ibrox.
Unfinished business in Scotland
Ciubotaru said: “I am familiar with the league. I have played at youth level and that is different. I am familiar with the intensity and what they want from players in this league. I feel I have unfinished business here. I wanted to come through in the first-team and it didn’t happen. Now I am here and I am prepared.”
The left-back insists he could have made it at Rangers had he been given the chance, but a bad back injury killed his chances. He said: “Every setback motivated me to show that I can do it. At Rangers, a few times I trained with the first-team, but most of my time there I was injured. I didn’t have a consistent time there getting game-time. I had to have back surgery. It was a few small things. It came from a tackle but I was also doing a lot of weights and that also impacted my lower back. It was quite serious but I came back quickly because I was motivated to get back. If I hadn’t had the injury it might have been different but everything happens for a reason. That is part of the game and it happens. Everything happens for a reason. Now I am back here to show myself and my abilities. I think I could have made it. I have faith in the abilities I have now, but it is not always as you want as a player. I am not angry that it didn’t happen. That is why I came back here to Dundee United to show myself in the league.”
Competition with Ferry
Ciubotaru will compete with Will Ferry for the left-back slot at United. He said: “I saw he had a great season last year. But competition is part of the game - that’s what makes us improve. I am aware of that. I am an attacking-minded left-back I really like to help the team going forward. There I things I need to improve on like crossing and things, but I am really positive. I would describe myself as a really positive player.”
He is ready to face Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup if needed. He said: “During the summer I trained by myself and I am not that far behind. Obviously, the intensity is different from Romania and I am taking it step-by-step. I am ready now. The coach has said I will be in the squad. Whenever he wants to call on me I will be good to go. These big games, I know how great the atmospheres are in Scotland. That attracted me because of the passion of the fans, even when you play away from home you feel the adrenaline.”
Celtic challenge
United have beaten Celtic on their last two visits to Tannadice, but manager Jim Goodwin acknowledges Celtic have shown a major statement of intent with their summer spending. Goodwin said: “I don’t think too much about last season. It is good for the boys who are with us, during those results. Somebody said it had been over 30 years since we beat Celtic twice in the same season. This is a different Celtic again. They have spent near to £35 million in the last three or four weeks. That gives you an indication of the challenge we face. The striker (Kasper Hogh) is on a run with the match ball last week. It is an area where we need to be wary of. We have to be positive. We can’t have a defeatist mentality. We need to respect them but not over respect them. If we put on a similar display as we did in the first 45 minutes then we will give ourselves a good chance.”
