Dániel Sallói: I can add a lot to the future national team

– Your team did not let you go join the national team's last two World Cup qualifiers. Were you surprised by the decision?
– I'm very sorry that I cannot be there, but this is life – Sporting Kansas City and Hungarian national team attacker Dániel Sallói replied to Nemzeti Sport's question. – My focus now is on getting my ankle fully healed and playing well with the team in the playoffs.

– Your good performance at club level was worth a national team invitation. How do you evaluate your performance so far in the national team?
– This is a whole new experience that I am trying to get used to as quickly as possible. I think I will be able to add a lot to this young, ambitious team over the years. New teammates, new position, and coaching staff. It's not easy to fit in quickly, but I'm doing everything I can to contribute to the team's success as soon as possible.

– Can Dániel Sallói be a key player in the national team in the future?
– That is the goal. Also, I work every day to help not only my club but also the Hungarian national team succeed. I trust myself, but more importantly, the players and the coaches trust me.

– How different is playing for the national team than playing in the MLS?
– Of course, we also meet much stronger teams with the national team. For example, my debut against England was like that. I have to get used to playing national team football and everything that comes with it. What I'm sure about is that the MLS is at a good-enough level to prepare me for most obstacles.

– You were close to the regular season victory,but ultimately failed to win the Western Conference. Was there an expectation that the team would win? Are you disappointed that you only finished third?
– It was an expectation and unfortunately, we messed up the guaranteed home-ground playoff, so we have to continue from third place. We're over it, and we're only looking ahead. The important thing is to reach the MLS grand finale and win there. The team is very excited. It's the most important time of the year.

– Sporting Kansas City will face Vancouver Whitecaps first in the playoffs. What kind of opponent do you think Vancouver is?
– We have a better lineup than Vancouver, but they've had a change of coach, and they've been soaring ever since. I think if everyone's healthy here, we'll going to beat them, but it won't be an easy game. There's no easy fight at this time of year.

– You had to miss a week because of an ankle injury, but you were back sooner than expected. Do you still think a quick comeback is the right decision, or have you reevaluated your decision?
– In hindsight, it wasn't the right decision. I was very keen to win the Golden Boot and I was close to it, but my movement showed that I wasn't healthy yet. My injury was four weeks ago. We're not playing a game this weekend, so that's a big help for me and I hope I'll be in very good shape for our next game.

– You've led the MLS goalscorers list for a long time, recording 16 goals and eight assists. What can we expect from you in the playoffs?
– I think that's where it shows who the great players are. There's a lot of pressure because the season is coming to an end for teams. I want to be the player who helps Sporting progress.

– You've played 30 games during the regular season. What is your relationship with head coach Peter Vermes who is of Hungarian descent?
– We have a good relationship, especially this year. I've learned over the years that only one thing is important to a coach: whether you play or not.

– The MLS has improved a lot in recent years, and it's no longer just a playground for aging stars. What do you think of this statement?
– It's amazing what level the league has reached in recent years. It's a young league, only twenty-five years of age. I can't wait to see what happens in the next 25 years.

– What can Hungarian fans expect? Can it be expected that you'll return to Europe?
– I love playing football here, but I'm open to anything, and after a season like this, many doors can open up for a player.

– You made it into the MLS All-Stars and were also nominated for the MVP title. How do you experience these successes?
– It's amazing how much has happened this year. I'm very motivated as more titles and awards are within reach now. This season could only be topped with the league title.