On Saturday our sporting director and former outstanding defender Roland Juhász celebrated his 40th birthday. However, we didn't sit down with Roland to talk and reminisce about the anniversary, but rather to focus on the latest news after the first pre-season match of the new 2023/2024 season.

Before we talk about the future, let's briefly look back at last season, which unfortunately didn't go according to plan...

A prolonged negative process culminated in the last few months for the team, which left us literally on edge until the last minute. This performance was unacceptable in the circumstances and everyone had to look self-critically at the amount and quality of work that had been done to make the team successful. Unfortunately, I did not feel that some of the players understood at all how difficult a situation Vidi were in because of them. Some of those who left were in this group, now I see from the first weeks that we have managed to stop the negative trends mentioned.

What could be the reasons for this poor performance?

We have a lot of good footballers, but perhaps too many "good guys" were sitting next to each other in the dressing room. There was no clash of opinions, no hierarchy of players, which is a normal feature of football teams - and it should be everywhere. What I missed was that we could not turn positive situations to our advantage. I can suddenly think of the home game against KTE, when, despite the poor results, many people came out, there was a good atmosphere, but we still lost with a poor game. Yet in games like this, a lot could be done to retain and even increase the crowd. But there were also several examples where we failed to capitalise on the momentum during matches. Another inescapable reason is our very poor away record.

There have also been changes in the coaching staff, but the team will continue to prepare under Bartosz Grzelak. Were you satisfied with his work?

Gábor Késedi and Patric Jildefalk both left at their own request. Patric unfortunately only had a short time with the team, but he did a valuable job and Johan Sandahl has already come in to replace him. Gábor was instrumental in the third league title, the cup win and the European campaign, but after seven seasons he was looking for other challenges, so we accepted that he wanted to leave. His replacement is still in the process. Bartosz Grzelak took over in a very difficult situation, and he has fulfilled the basic objective, as we can prepare for the NB I this summer. His contract, as announced at the time of the announcement, is valid until the end of the 2024/2025 season and there is no reason for either party not to continue the work he has started. We are in constant contact and of course we talk on a daily basis, I can see that in these few months he has really grown to love the club and the city, I consider him the right person to put together a young team with a good mentality.

Our club owner revealed in an interview on Monday that the opportunities at the club have changed since the summer, which obviously has an impact on your job.

That's right, of course, we've been discussing this a lot over the last few weeks. I know the framework within which we can operate in the market, and I am sure that we will be able to strengthen our squad before the end of the transfer window. A lot of players have left the team, and we needed a big blood refreshment. It's understandable that after the signings of Csaba Spandler and Franck Bambock, our fans are still waiting for further announcements, and we are working behind the scenes every day to ensure that the new players can join the squad as soon as possible.

What other positions are you looking for players?

The two new signings so far have come in the axle, but we are looking to deepen the squad in the middle of the pitch. Our basic aim is to have at least two viable options in each position for the coaching staff by the end of the transfer window.

What will the new Vidi look like?

It's a period of rebuilding. We're looking for young, mentally strong players who want to develop and are prepared to work hard to do so. We will continue to give players every opportunity at the club to make the most of their potential. We want to see a team on the pitch that can fight for each other, the club and the fans from the first minute to the last. I would like to thank them for sticking with the team and cheering us on despite the poor results last season. I believe that, despite the fact that next season we will probably not be fighting for the top three finish, they will be proud of the team for its character and performance.

You've had to say goodbye to several players with whom you fought together on the pitch not so long ago. Not a very rewarding task.

It's part of the job. For different reasons, but I really had to tell footballers who have done a lot for Vidi that we are not extending their contracts. Unfortunately, or not unfortunately, this is part of football - I experienced it myself at Anderlecht, when after seven years the then incoming head coach didn't really count on me. I know that there was an article that said, for example, that Ádám Kovácsik found out on the internet that we were not extending his contract, but I had already spoken to Ádám days before the announcement, and we have since cleared up the misunderstanding. He and the others are always welcome at Sósto, as they are an important part of Vidi's history.

How will the preparations continue?

This time we will be preparing at home all summer long, and at the Sósto we have all the conditions for quality work. Of course, the team-building function of the training camp may be missing, but we will also try to solve this "locally" with various programmes. After the games against DAC and Osijek, we are scheduled to play Trabzonspor in Slovenia, and a week before the league kick-off against Újpest, we will play two more training matches against Gyirmót and Pécs.

Many youngsters are currently training with the first team, can they be the future of Vidi?

In this period of preparation, there are always more youngsters joining the first team for training, as our national team players cannot join the squad at this time. The opportunity is there, it's up to the kids to take it, but I don't want to put too much pressure on any 16-18 year old player by using big words like they are the future of Vidi. However, I dare to say that there is a lot of talent playing football in red and blue, I am waiting to see who can take the extra steps needed to become a dominant player in the NB I. We have plans to 'maximise' the MLSZ offer of what is colloquially known simply as Hungarian and youth minutes, so we are absolutely open to giving opportunities to youngsters who earn them in training, in pre-season matches or even in our NB III team, which performed well last season.