How satisfied are you with the performance of the players signed in winter and the team as a whole?
It was the result of several months of work that the players we signed in winter joined us. We recruited consciously by position, choosing players we believed could become strengths of the team both in character and footballing ability. I think that over the past nine matches the team has performed at the expected level. If we look at the spring table, we can see that we currently sit second behind Kisvárda. So overall I can say that most of the new players have so far delivered the performance we expected from them. The team’s results can generally be described as good, although both I and the staff still feel there were one or two matches where more could have been achieved.
Kevin Kántor has become a big favourite with the supporters.
I received a lot of criticism from experts and various members of the media because of Kevin, but I believe he has already proved that it is possible to arrive from the Swiss fifth division and still play outstanding football in the Hungarian NB II. It is particularly pleasing to me that he has been actively involved in most of our goals in every match.
There are six rounds left in the season. What do you expect from the remaining spring matches?
I’m confident about a good continuation and I assume that, if everything goes according to plan, we will manage during the spring to lay the foundations of next year’s team. Naturally, we are continuously working to strengthen the squad, because we are here to achieve further success.
For a long time we were below the line. Did the thought ever cross your mind that we might be relegated?
No, although the situation bothered me greatly. I always trusted that by strengthening the team in winter we would become successful. Our spring results so far confirm that.
How would you assess the work of Tamás Feczkó and his staff?
A head coach and his staff can always be judged by their results. Overall, I think a good joint working process has begun. I trust that the performances we have seen so far will become even more successful later, but for that we need what everyone knows: to work from morning to night to make the team as good as possible.
What do you think about the Honvéd academy?
Tamás Feczkó has already worked at a club where close cooperation with the academy was required. By now our head coach, Attila Miskei (our academy’s sporting director – ed.), Endre Bajúsz (academy director), Tamás Szamosi (pre-academy director – ed.) and I are all working together to find the right balance that can positively influence the senior team’s results. At present there are usually 3–4 academy graduates in our team, which I think is a good proportion. We have many talented youngsters in our academy who may have major responsibilities in the future. Two rounds ago Erik Kovács made his senior debut at the age of 16 years and 111 days, which shows that our youth coaches are doing good work. In my view, our academy ranks among the top three academies in Hungary.
In terms of attendances in both the first and second divisions, we have one of the most loyal fan bases, and they also support the team in large numbers at away matches. Crowds at our games have visibly increased during the spring. What do you think about that?
Our well-wishers convinced supporters that we were here to drive the team into the third division, but by now I think they can see that we have taken a different path from what they were told, and we want to build a successful Budapest Honvéd. Personally, I’m very happy that so many supporters come to our matches, and lately they have created a very good atmosphere, which is extremely important for our players. When a player feels the supporters’ trust, he is capable of much better performances.
There are rumours that the current owner wants to sell the club. Is there any truth to this?
I would like to state clearly that the club is not for sale. A club with traditions like these should not be sold within 10–15 years. If we look at how many years the current owner spent at his previous club, no one can seriously think that he would part with Budapest Honvéd after half a year.
What do you expect from the match against Szentlőrinc?
Naturally, as always, I expect the right attitude and a victory from the team.
