He was the captain of Slovakia under the age of 20, a great talent who played for Nitra at the age of sixteen, he has 386 starts in the extra league.
He has only been coaching for four seasons and has just got his fourth club. Even last year, in the sinking Nové Zámky, his own fans unintelligently threw him down. Last time, debt-plagued Michalovce shot from battle to rescue through the preliminaries to the seven-match quarter-finals with the Corgons.
ERIK ČALADI (38) he quickly transformed from the role of a criticized coach into a coaching comet. The biggest challenge of his career has been on his shoulders since Monday. The role of head coach in the best team and club in Slovakia.
“We want to succeed in Champions League and defend the title,” declared the new pilot of Nitra and answered fourteen questions from MY Nitra newspaper.
In the interview you will read:
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what goals Kováčik and Chrenko set for Čaládi,
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which opponents in the CHL granted him a wish,
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what the radical criticism of N. Zámkov’s fans did to him,
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what he said about signing Virtanen
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whether he wants to bring an assistant or not,
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what does he say about the effort to keep Buček,
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how many positions are still open in the cadre?
When did you receive the offer from Nitra?
The day after the announcement of the end of Andrej Kmeč. We have developed debates. Of course, I felt a huge impulse and a desire to come to Nitra.
Then reality came, as I was agreed to continue in Michalovce. I knew that the current contract could have hindered my transfer. It finally worked out.
Nitra released you from the contract in Michalovci. Did Dukla resist?
They were not enthusiastic in Michalovci. I assumed it wouldn’t be easy.
I also received two other offers from extra-league clubs for the position of head coach. I had no reason to run. Nitra was the only one for which I was willing to negotiate the termination of the contract.
The clubs negotiated and finally agreed on a way to do it. It was not an easy decision for me either. In Michalovce, I met wonderful people who made things easier for my family.
However, home is home. Coaching Nitra and the best team in Slovakia is a dream come true, but also a responsibility and commitment.
WHO DOES NITRA HAVE IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Ruthless draw for Nitra. We advanced to the Swedish league, smiles Kováčik
Read more
In the quarterfinals, you and the outsider from Michaloviec tormented Nitra for up to seven games. How did you read the favorite and how did you eliminate its strongest points?
I don’t think it was about me specifically reading Nitra. I would rather highlight the work of the players. They bought it “with everything”, as “Tondo” Stavjaňa would say. We have created a great group with a desire to achieve as much as possible.
We prepared for Nitra using exactly the same process as before in the preliminary round for Spišská Nová Ves. Of course, it was a bit easier, because I knew better how the opponent plays.
When we were eliminated, I continued to support Nitra and especially coach Andrej Kmeč. I don’t think anyone deserved the title more. It was the best team I have ever seen in the extra league. Excellent skating and technical equipment, offensively tuned and systemically honest.
In Nitra, apart from the results, they also pay attention to the offensive style of play. Did management also communicate this to you as a priority?
We talked about it. I identify with several views of Mir Kováčik and Tomáš Chrenko. I like the offensive style, but there must always be conditions for it. Time will tell how we set it up.
What main goals did managers Kováčik and Chrenko formulate for you?
