Tamás Hajnal: Ferencváros is earning more and more respect

– Honestly, how many points were you hoping for before the group stage?
– At the moment of the draw, we were realistic about our situation, we knew that we were not the most likely to qualify in this group of four – Tamás Hajnal, Ferencváros' sporting director, told our newspaper while talking on the hotel terrace in Türkiye. – Trabzonspor, Monaco, and Crvena Zvezda are ahead of us in terms of both financial resources and experience. I thought our group was a difficult group after the draw, but I didn't speculate, I was like, let's go, let's do it, and let's earn points.

– Advancing, continuing in the spring was the clear goal, wasn't it?
– Of course. We wanted to be in one of the international cups, but we knew that a lot of things had to come together. The idea was to try and overturn the paper form, and along the way, we had the goal of finishing in a position that would earn us a place in the spring. The first two rounds then produced some outstanding results, defeating Trabzonspor 3-2 at home with just ten players for the most part, and then defeating Monaco 2–0 in the away match. These two games gave the boys confidence and energy.

THERE WERE UPS AND DOWNS, BUT THE GREAT FEAT OVERCAME EVERYTHING

– At the start of July, the international cup adventure began in Tobol, Kazakhstan with the qualifying round of the Champions League while the Europa League group stage ended in Trabzon, Türkiye on Thursday. Which was the team's best match professionally?

– The home game against Trabzonspor. That match stood out from the rest in terms of atmosphere, teamwork, and organization. And I would even say in individual performances, as we scored wonderful goals at the end of the beautiful attacks. We only have to think of our first goal, which was a rehearsed move: Bálint Vécsei played the ball into the path of Tokmac Nguyen, who then headed the ball into the net. We also defended well, we had dangerous counterattacks, and of course, we were nervous at the end, but we came out well from the turning points.

– Did the team feel they were in the lead with six points?
– The good start gave everyone confidence, and it looked like there might be a chance to finish better than third place. But even with six points, we couldn't be sure. Overall, I consider it a great success that we finished top of the group! Of course, there were ups and downs along the way, but we were always able to react appropriately, and that was also key. The team has to learn not only to play well but also to play effectively. We've made a lot of progress in that now.

– How much does the fact that the players have been playing at this level for years now and are becoming more experienced play a role in the advancement?
– It makes a huge difference. We have players who don't panic in these games and can perform under pressure. We have always been able to surprise the opponent, score goals from very few opportunities. I can honestly say that it has been a source of pride to hear the rivals' evaluation because their head coaches have often emphasized how strong and athletic Fradi is, and there are a lot of talented players.

– Are these criteria when choosing players?
– Definitely. Speed, dynamism - these are all basic requirements on the international level, and they are also important criteria when selecting players at Ferencváros. And it is not enough to just buy good players, a lot depends on training as well. We have a great fitness and medical department, and we have to get the most out of the talented players. And then there is the question of the distribution of heavy load. We had a lot of matches in the fall, we've played twenty-one competitive matches since the beginning of July, and then there are the national team matches for our national team players.

STANISLAV CHERCHESOV DID HIS BEST FOR SUCCESS

– You meet club managers, club officials, and you can learn a lot from their reactions: do they look at Ferencváros differently now?
– I attend a lot of official meetings, lunches, and dinners when I talk to the opponents' representatives. In recent years, we have had returning teams among our opponents, and the current group stage has brought new contacts in this respect. At the start, it was clear that we had surprised everyone, nobody expected us to start with six points, let alone finish top of the group. Paul Mitchell, sporting director of AS Monaco, also showed interest in us which tells us that he wanted to know what we were doing. These are all telling signs.

– What is your working relationship with Stanislav Cherchesov? Do they meet on a weekly basis?
– We meet almost every day. I'm the type of sporting director who attends every training session – I'm involved in the team's life. Stanislav Cherchesov and I talk all the time, we discuss the team's progress and what's happening on a daily basis.

– Is it difficult to communicate with him?
– He is an experienced, emotional person who thinks a lot about what and how to improve. We talk a lot and understand each other well.

– In addition to the more than eight million euros in revenue, another important question is how much the value of the footballers could increase following such a successful group stage. Can you guess?
– We hope that their value has increased. If we look purely at the facts, a good performance should be followed by an increase in value. Good performances brought that, but at the end of the day, only the market will determine who is worth what, and the offers will reflect that.

THE WORLD CUP IN QATAR IS ALSO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY

– Who do you think is the most talented player in the current Ferencváros squad? Adama Traoré, worth more than five million euros, or Samy Mmaee, who has repeatedly played well professionally?
– I don't want to pick anyone. Those who have watched our games have seen what each individual has contributed to the team's performance. Hopefully, three of our players - Aïssa Laïdouni, Samy, and Ryan Mmaee - will be at the World Cup in Qatar, which will be a huge breakthrough for them. I'm looking forward to seeing what the winter brings and what offers come in for whom.

– Do you think it is possible that Adama Traoré will leave in the winter?
– If all things are in place to the benefit of the club, then yes. For this to happen, a perfect offer must be made from an economic and sports point of view. The situation was similar for Myrto Uzuni, who left for Spain earlier, and there was an offer for him before, but either the timing or the amount was not right. In any case, it's reassuring that all our players have contracts that leave the decision in our hands. It's a good basis for negotiation.

– Ferencváros is in the top 16 of the Europa League, while clubs like Barcelona, Juventus, and Manchester United are still fighting for it. Does it matter who Fradi will be up against?
– It does matter. Looking at the potential opponents, there is a significant difference in quality. Barcelona or Manchester United are not in the same category as, say, Nantes or Midtjylland. We have worked hard to be in the top 16 and we want to continue to be competitive. We know it's harder to get through against Barcelona than against a smaller team, but we're going to play those two games with the intention of advancing. We're sportsmen, if we've made it this far, we want to take the next opportunity.

– Any preference for an opponent?
– The list is too long for now. There's no particular opponent, but it would be nice to get a team against which we have a realistic chance of reaching the final eight.

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