The head coach of the MKB-MVM Veszprém Carlos Ortega extended his contract with Veszprém for two more years. Xavi Sabate will help him further on. The interview was made after the match against the Vardar Skopje.

 

 

- After two and a half years it is already possible to make a balance. Since many great success can be related to you. Gold medals from Hungarian championships and good international results. Are you satisfied with the happenings until now?

- As it is said every beginning is hard. But for me this regarded only the adaptation to the language and to the culture. To the profession doesn’t because I arrived to a fantastic team. To such a club that has tradition for decades. The Veszprém team has incredible results and with this they built up a fine reputation for themselves in Europe. Their continuous development and the reaching of higher and higher goals are remarkably. I got among professional players, so we understood each other quickly. We began to build a new team. I am proud that I can stay here together with Xabi Sabate for two more years.

 

- You build the team from step by step. In the first year the Veszprém barely remained out of the Final Four. Last time you succeeded to get there, but the team was there a newcomer. How can the endgame work out this year?

- Of course I accept and understand that the fans except from us to get to Köln from the beginning of the Champions League. But the truth is that in this game always the next match is the most important. So now it is to defeat the Russian Medvedi. And so on. We really just can get forward from step by step. Every victory or defeat has a great influence for the next match. We want to win the group’s first place as soon as possible. If we manage to do that we can get a rival we can defeat easier. In the international cup of the highest rank everything has its price. The teams have to work hard for every goal, score and success. Sometimes success and defeat are within a hair's breadth from each other. All participants of the CL want to get into the Final Four and then win the whole game in the end. The MKB-MVM Veszprém belongs also to this field.

 

- As people see, the adaptation of the newcomers to the team causes the biggest hardness. And it takes a long time until the players get to know each other and get used to each other. It is important in the defense especially.

- And also in the attack. But let us take the example of Andreas Nilsson. He has not defended in the last two years. When he had a chance to play he had only few successes. For me defense is very important. Slowly he will learn that. He is not our best defender on the back, but we have to try hard to make him one. And this can be learned only by continuous game. Christian Zeitz defended well in Kiel but in another system. In the last three weeks he already plays like I want him to play. It takes many work, training and match until everything will be perfect also in the front and in the back. Every newcomer has to get used to the new language, culture, environment and the new tactics to follow. And of course it takes much time.

 

- Who decides who Veszprém will contract?

- We always consult with Mr. Csaba Hajnal (sports director of the club) on contracts. They ask also me; take my advice because the one who works with players is the coach.

 

- Was it hard to agree on the new contract for two years?

- It took more time that I expected. I like to be here and work here. I think that we completed our tasks with my colleague Xavi Sabate successful. We are glad that we can continue.

 

 

- What does the help of Xavi Sabate mean for you?

- Almost everything. We have been working together for more than ten years. He is simply amazing. He is also very important for the team. He is not only here to slap me friendly on the back sometimes. I can say he means two more eyes for me. Four eyes can see namely more. He is an incredibly severe critic and also honest. He tells everything about what he is seeing. Even, if we sometimes disagree, I like to work with him very much.

 

- Do I think it right that you achieved successes with a brand new game-mode which is based on a good defense system? Although you got suitable players to that, since for every position there are two class players to play. This wasn't like that before.

- I am glad if you see it that way, you are close to the truth, as really the defense is the most important to achieve success and victory. I always focus on the whole team and not on single players. Because only the TEAM can win or lose. Not the single player.

 

 

Tamás Donát