Juan Calatayud: "It is very rare to have a great atmosphere within the dressing room as we have now"

- The team produced a very good performance over the autumn season. How would you sum this all up, as well as your own performance?

An excellent half season is behind us, where we lead the league table and are still involved in both the Hungarian and league cups. We have also scored the most goals and conceded the least. The latter is especially pleasing from the point of view of a goalkeeper. However, this is not because of me, but the whole team. There were certain games during the first half of the season where the result did not turn out the way we had wanted it to, but the supporters still saw in those games that the players were giving their all out on the pitch. 

- You could hear during the summer that Spanish side Malaga were seriously interested in you, but you remained with Vidi. What was the factor that made you choose Videoton?

I first discussed this with my family. My wife and children are very happy in Szekesfehervar. It is a much bigger challenge for me from a professional point of view, to fight to win trophies with Vidi, which would also lead to us playing on the international stage. Videoton FC are a very good team. I have played for bigger clubs during my career, but it is very rare to find such a good atmosphere within a dressing room as we have now. The unity is not just perfect out there on the pitch, but also beyond it. I can also honestly say that I have never worked before with such a good coaching team as I do now. 

- What was the best moment of the autumn season for you?

I would pick out two things. The first is the league match against Győr, when we twice managed to come from behind and eventually won the game. This was an unforgettable game for me, as we did this against one of our main rivals. The other moment was a very emotional and touching event, when we played the away league match at Dunaujvaros. We arrived back home and were greeting by our fans at the stadium, who awaited us with flairs and also sang songs. I will never forget this. 

- How will you be spending the festive period, and what are you expecting from the second half of the season?

It is important that everyone fully rests in the period ahead, both physically and mentally. I will be spending the entire period with my family back home in Spain. I would like us to continue from where we left off in the spring season, and that the fact that we will play the big matches away from home should not prove a barrier for us.