Our U16 team advanced confidently to the semifinals of the Elite Cup, deciding the quarterfinal against Chindia already in the first half. After the match, head coach Bernát Burus shared his thoughts.

Our U16 team advanced confidently to the semifinals of the Elite Cup, deciding the quarterfinal against Chindia already in the first half. After the match, head coach Bernát Burus shared his thoughts.

Following the game, the coach spoke about the nature of knockout matches and the team’s efficiency in the first half.

– In the knockout stage, a cup match always carries a different kind of pressure, as the margin for error is minimal and there is little opportunity to correct mistakes. We knew our opponent, having faced them in the regular season as well, where we played a tight match and even had to come back twice from a losing position – said Bernát Burus.

He emphasized that defensive stability and exploiting the opponent’s mistakes were key factors.

– We tried to build our defense on the most stable foundations and to exploit their mistakes as effectively as possible. We managed this perfectly and scored at a great tempo in the first half, from well-worked situations that we had analyzed and practiced before the match. It was one of those rare games where we were able to convert our first opportunities into goals, which made our task much easier – he explained.

He added that the four-goal lead led to a slight drop in intensity.

– Our four-goal advantage in the first half made us perhaps too comfortable, and the quality of our play dropped somewhat, allowing the opponent to score due to our momentary lack of concentration. Nevertheless, I believe we can speak about a very good match overall, and the first-half performance gives us plenty of reason for optimism – the head coach noted.

In closing, he highlighted the team’s achievement and the upcoming challenge.

– Huge congratulations from the entire staff to the boys, as they have reached another milestone and achieved another goal they had set for themselves. We are preparing for the semifinal, we know our opponent from last year, obviously it will be a completely different match, but at this stage there are no favorites. We are looking forward to it with great dedication and pride! – concluded Bernát Burus.

László Orbán
Photo: Zoltán Pál