As is known, two more academy players, Viktor Petrók and Zsombor Liziczay, made their NB II debuts in the weekend match against Békéscsaba. The former had only just turned 17, while the latter became the second-youngest academy player ever to appear, behind Noel Keresztes.
“It was a very good and honourable feeling when I found out that from the winter I could begin preparations with the first team. At first the plan was that I would train up there only for the first three weeks, during which it would be decided how well I could integrate into the level of senior football. Then I stayed longer. The first training sessions were very difficult because we started immediately on grass, which is not usual in youth football. The intensity of the sessions is also much higher, but I feel I managed to adapt to the rhythm” – our academy player, who usually plays as a playmaking midfielder in the youth teams, said about the initial period.
“My shortcomings showed more clearly at this level, so my goal was to eliminate them completely. I was first able to show my strengths at the training camp in Turkey. There I could already contribute to the team's play both in possession and defensively, and I was also able to be more creative.”
Before the league match against Békéscsaba, Tamás Feczkó named our young academy player in the squad for two league games; he eventually got his chance with the first team this Sunday against Békéscsaba.
“I prepared for every match thinking I would come on. I did not expect many minutes, but I wanted to get the most out of whatever little time I received. I felt liberated, because since I was five I had worked and dreamed of one day making my debut, and that became reality on Sunday” – said Viktor, whose father boasts more than 130 top-flight appearances and whose grandfather also played 77 times in the first division. That naturally raised the question of whether the family's strong football tradition had placed any extra pressure on him.
“My father helped me a lot, but he left the joyful part – that I could train with the senior team – for me to experience. He did not put any extra pressure on me. I have great respect for my father's career, and at the same time I feel that thanks to him I can have even higher ambitions in football.”
Our young midfielder trains with the senior team but is also a member of our U17 squad for the Puskás-Suzuki Cup, where Slavia Praha, KRC Genk and Real Madrid await in the group stage.
“The burden is lighter when playing with the senior team because, although my own expectations are enormous, others do not make me feel that pressure. In the U17s the burden is 'sweeter' because – quite rightly – a lot is expected of me and there is a great deal of trust in me. Last year I essentially played throughout the Suzuki Cup against teams such as Juventus and Sporting. These youth teams already play at almost the pace of an NB II side. So this tournament also has to be approached in much the same way as a senior match. My goal is to help my team at the tournament in Felcsút with the most efficient and successful play possible. There are examples to follow in the outstanding players from major clubs who have appeared at previous tournaments. I want to perform at least at that level; my game has to be influential” – he added.
