Monday 06 January 2025 11:44
It’s hard to argue with him: the team captain’s armband went to Krisztián Manchercz, since Manó has been a defining individual of Hungarian polo sports for a decade. With the newly elected Czech, who presented himself brilliantly in this role, we already talked about the big tasks in 2025 – including the World Cup qualifiers.
Among the individual accolades of men’s water polo, it is not easy to name something stronger than the title of “captain of the Hungarian national team”. He climbed to this peak Krisztián Manherczwho was able to exchange flags with the captain of the opposing team for the first time in the warm-up match played in Croatia.
Elf leads ours for the first time (photo: MVLSZ/Anikó Kovács)
“This is a very big thing, it is an incredible honor for me that Zsolt Varga asked me. I also feel its weight, this position is a big responsibility, because its holder must be the leader of the team in and out of the pool,” said Manó to the MOL Team.
A great debut
The Ferencváros classic seized the first opportunity to prove that he is ready for the task, in Zagreb he shredded the home team’s goal to shreds with four goals in the official match won by 14-10.
“We played four games during the training camp, all four with Croatian referees, but we still won them all. Of course, this was a very young Croatian team, at the beginning of the Olympic cycle it is natural that everyone starts building their team for the next games.”The result is nice, and we also missed some great individuals, but we must not overthink it”
– he said about the excellent training camp.
According to Manó, the World Cup qualifiers are coming at the right time, because the thoroughly rejuvenated Hungarian polo team can show that they are capable of aiming for the all-time minimum, the medal battles, in a competitive match against strong teams. France and Spain are waiting for us in the qualifiers for the World Cup.
The momentum against the Croats must be carried forward (photo: MVLSZ/Anikó Kovács)
“There will be four of us from the Olympic team, we also have injuries, so we will go to the qualifiers with a fairly young team. We cannot say how much our frame has changed compared to the others, because we cannot see the others. On Monday, it will be clear what teams the opponents will come with,” he said cheerfully.
“We are concentrating on ourselves, because we have the quality to beat both opponents, no matter what team they play. Our goal cannot be anything other than victory!”
About the big tasks of 2025
The newly appointed team captain said that the most important event of the year will be the summer World Championship, where the goal cannot be other than the final. He then added why he is confident about the beginning of the rejuvenation wave.
If we have to rely on young people, we will be good (photo: MVLSZ/Anikó Kovács)
“In recent years, the Hungarian boys have achieved great results in the youth team, thank heaven that the profession can work with such strong dedication that it stands out from the field. There is a lot of competition to get into the team and that is good for everyone.”
Manó’s words are supported not only by the medals won in the youth team, but also by last year’s European Championship, which was crowded into the unusual competition calendar, where the Hungarian colt team, which traveled almost exclusively with young people without its routine classics, performed brilliantly.
“We want results immediately. The Hungarian water polo national team must deliver victories, this is what the public and we expect from ourselves, but in order for the rejuvenation not to be at the expense of the results, everyone who takes the place of world class players in the national team must really get their act together.”
“We are not afraid of anyone! We want to defeat everyone who comes our way,” the Czech announced the goals for 2025.
Source: molcsapat.hu
