„We always have to learn something new.”

 As many times during the summer, the team of Veszprém is going to start off on a journey. This time, Iváncsik Gergő and his team is going to play in a prestigious international tournament in Strasbourg, France. They are going to fight with Chambery and Montpellier to get into the final where they may have the chance to play with Paris including Karabatic.

 

We, first of all, asked Coach Ortega that learning some new tactics or improving the old techniques is more reasonable for such an elite competition.

- Of course it’s always necessary to learn some new tactics. – Carlos Ortega said. After the long summer break, we had to start it all over again in the preparation period in order to brush up on our game.

 

 

He also said that with the two new players, Palmarsson and Sliskovic, the team has been strengthened and their repertoire has been broadened.

-They are really good at defence and they can play taking turns on the court or even in the same time together. They will help us to be faster and more hazardous in this period. Temporarily, I can count on Palmarsson only in the first or in the second position. Sliskovic, on the other hand, can defend in the center position in the 6-0 game. It’s not impossible that they will defend in the same time. One thing is clear: we have specially gifted players. If all of them are healthy, it will be really hard to decide who should be out of the roster.

 

Is the step-by-step development, which you mentioned many times, going to end with a Champions League victory?

- I can state that this will be our hardest year since I’ve been working here because we are facing much harder clashes than ever – he said. So everyone should prepare that we may fail more than last year. Now it’s unnecessary to add that how many games we are preparing for. Now the most important one is the Super Cup final game against MOL-Pick Szeged this weekend. Then, the Club World Championship in Qatar. So we have to move forward step by step. Of course we want to reach the highest level in each tournament. Even in the Champions League – he added.

 

What would you think of a Final Four including Barcelona, Kielce, Paris and Veszprém in May next year? (He smiled first, then answered the question)

-I cannot imagine a Final Four in Cologne without a German team. There is no doubt that our team has the chance to be among those prestigious teams for the third time. I think, our CL group is extremely strong. I hope you don’t get me wrong but this time of the year I don’t think we should talk about what we expect in May, next year.

 

Tamás Donát