Foreign players: Dávid Holman can do again what he loves – he can play football

– How are you feeling?
– I'm feeling well, thank you. I'm doing the prescribed work with my teammates – Dávid Holman, the 28-year-old forward with 5 caps for Hungary, who's recovered from a serious knee injury suffered in July, told Nemzeti Sport.

– In the first training session in January, did you put on the football shoes again, with which you scored your first and so far only goal for the national team in Azerbaijan in June 2019?
– After my goal in Baku, the shoes went into the showcase, among the cups and medals. Last October, when I touched the ball again three months after the surgery, I took them out of superstition, trained in them, and then put them back.

– You give interviews again after a long time. Why have you been silent until now?
– I respectfully rejected all interview requests from both Hungary and Slovakia. Thank you, and I am grateful that everyone accepted it. I made this decision because I didn't want to look like a martyr. I didn't want anyone to feel sorry for me. People have to deal with problems that are much more serious than mine. Of course, my injury was unpleasant, but I knew that after six months I could come back and do again what I love: play football.

– How's the last six months been?
– Tough, but I'm lucky that a lot of people, my wife, my family at home, and almost everyone at the club, have helped me through the difficult weeks and months. A physiotherapist and strength coach almost always worked with me only, and they paid attention to every detail and little thing. If something went wrong, they intervened.

– Head coach Vladimír Weiss repeatedly noted in the fall how much he misses you in the team.
– I could see that my injury hurt not only me but also him. There wasn't a day when we didn't meet or asked about me. It was nice he cared.

– Are you doing all the exercises now?
– Yes. We have two weeks of training camp in Bratislava behind us. The staff and the players know what kind of injury I'm coming back from, I'm not pushing anything too hard. So far, everything is fine, my knee handles the load well. I was supposed to play a training match on Friday, but the opponent canceled the game. The next opportunity will be in Dubai, where we plan to play three matches as part of the preparation, and I hope to be able to play.

– The Fortuna League spring season starts in three weeks. Do you think Slovan will play against Senice with you in the starting line-up?
– Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, I have to go step by step. I guess, in consultation with the staff, I will gradually get the match load, the most important thing is to be fully prepared. I have to be sure.

– You could have a beautiful May with the league title with Slovan and...
– It's going to be really nice because my wife, Emília, and I are expecting our first child, a boy, in May.