Zsombor Senkó doesn't see DVTK as a step backwards at all

– What makes the future of DVTK more attractive than what Juventus offered?
– The most important aspect when changing clubs was to get as many playing opportunities as possible so that I could give my best and rise to the top – said Zsombor Senkó, the recently signed goalkeeper for DVTK, who previously spent almost four years with the world-famous Italian club. – I was a goalkeeper for Juventus' third division U23 team at the start of the season. They were happy with me, but I was out of the team due to a broken finger, and then my situation changed. Before I signed for DVTK, I spoke to head coach Sergey Kuznetsov, who told me how he works, and what he expects from the goalkeepers, and I liked what he had outlined. I have a new challenge ahead of me, I have to prove in a new place that I can be counted on.

– Many people were surprised by you signing to a Hungarian club. You came back from one of the most famous teams in the world to the Hungarian second-division leaders.
– I have heard about the reactions, and many people consider my decision as a step backwards, but I don't see it that way! I needed a change of environment to feel comfortable on and off the pitch. I see Diósgyőr as an opportunity to prove what I am worth, and what kind of a goalkeeper I am. I didn't come to Hungary to play football in NB II. Looking at the ranking, we have a good chance to reserve our first place with hard work and get promoted to the first division. I'm here to contribute as much as I can, and I'm also motivated by the fact that I'm playing at the senior level week after week. But of course, I need to prove myself in training.

– Overall, how do you evaluate your almost four years at Juventus?
– Positive, because I was able to develop abroad with a top team. I was promoted as a U16 player, I went through the age-group teams, and I was able to train at the highest level, meet stars and be a Serie A player. I have a lot of good memories, last season we made history with Juventus in the UEFA Youth League, I had a lot of good games, and I made a lot of lifelong friendships.

– In terms of goalkeeping training, were you in the right place at Juventus?
– I got a lot of attention from my coaches, I improved my strength and technique, I also improved mentally, so I owe a lot to the training there. It was completely different training with the adults than in the age group team: the game was much faster, the players shot more accurately and more powerfully. I was able to see first-hand how Gianluigi Buffon or Wojciech Szczesny read the game, and how they trained – they even gave me advice sometimes. But nothing can replace match situations, which is why I switched.

– What are your first experiences at Diósgyőr like?
– I arrived in a welcoming team, the teammates are helpful. The training sessions are intense, hard work is happening in the gym, and the atmosphere is good. I like what I have seen so far. Ágoston Bényei and I have known each other for years from the national team, he was the first person I could turn to, but everyone is nice to me.

– Isn't it strange that you're no longer training players of Cristiano Ronaldo's or Dušan Vlahović's caliber?
– Obviously it's different because Juventus is one of the world's elite Champions League teams, playing at the highest level. However, if I compare it to Juve's third-division team, Diósgyőr has a slightly faster tempo. The reserve team had a hot-blooded atmosphere, I got my head taken off after a bad pass or a mistake, but the atmosphere is better here. In Italy, the goalkeepers were reserved and didn't make friends, whereas here, Branislav Danilović and I have a good working relationship, he's open towards me. Although I haven't played much recently, I feel in good shape. I could be at about eighty percent, but the preparation period is to get me up to a hundred and help the team.