2025-08-31 16:00

Our new Egyptian left-back, Ali Zein, already believed as a player for Dinamo Bucharest that he would one day play for Veszprém, whose coach he knows well, having worked with Xavi Pascual in Bucharest in recent years. We talked to him about the Spanish coach, our city, his motivation, Barcelona's Champions League victory in 2022, and the importance of team building.

How do you feel in Veszprém?

I've only been here a short time, so I haven't been able to explore everything yet, which is difficult because we train twice a day, so I don't have much energy left for that. I had to move my stuff from Bucharest, then unpack the boxes so I could set up my home in Veszprém, and these together were pretty tough.

How different is the environment compared to Cairo or Bucharest?

My first impressions are very good. Veszprém is a beautiful place, not too big, more of a quiet little town where everything closes around 9 p.m. I won't deny that this was a little strange for me, because I come from Cairo, where everything is always open. But I don't mind, because I'm the type of person who prefers to stay at home and doesn't like to go out much; I prefer to relax instead.

What's next?

I am trying to learn a few words in Hungarian, which is not so easy, but I am trying to adapt. Don't think of anything big, just things like "hello" and "how are you," which is not much, I know, but I have to spend some time on it, and my children will learn it too. My family came with me, and we've already found a good school that teaches in Hungarian and English.

You played against Veszprém several times with Dinamo Bucharest. Did you ever think that one day you would play handball here?

Yes, I did! At least, I thought it would be nice. I played against Veszprém many times, not only with Bucharest, but also with Barcelona before that, and I really liked the atmosphere in the arena. I remember it always being sold out, and the fans didn't just watch the games, they always cheered, really supporting the team, standing behind them. You could feel that they had a winning spirit, always wanting to win, and that's not easy for any opponent! But it's OK, because if you want to be the best team in the world, you can't think about anything else but winning. I love the atmosphere here, the fans are like family. I hope we can perform well enough during the season to make them proud.

How do you remember the matches you played against Veszprém?

Veszprém has always been a very strong team, one of the best. In the last two or three years, I think they were among the four best teams in the world. I remember how hard we had to work against Barcelona back then, and in the end we lost by one goal. But even then I didn't get discouraged, I always try to think positively and look for solutions.

You worked with our coach, Xavi Pascual, for three years in Bucharest. How do you remember him?

I've always liked him, I like his approach, the way he always thinks systematically. He's the kind of coach who creates, builds and organizes his team from A to Z so that it has every chance of reaching the top. He did the same thing in Bucharest, where he also had a project, and I don't know anyone better who can do that. He's always looking for solutions, not only during games, but also during training sessions, so that he can surprise his opponents again and again. He's always very well prepared and prepares us well too. And he knows exactly what his players are capable of. We always enjoy working together, we are constantly learning and facing new challenges, training sessions never become monotonous, he keeps us on fire all the time.

You are a player who can play both up front and at the back. Which do you consider more important?

When I was younger, I preferred attacking because everyone likes scoring goals, but I learned that defense is more important because if you don't defend well, you will never win anything. You might win a game here and there, you might even beat a stronger opponent, you might have the best offense in the world, but without a solid defense, you won't win any trophies. This sport is also built from the back, everything starts with the defense, never with the offense. First, you need to have good defenders, only then can you build a truly strong team. And the more energy you put into defense, the more your thinking will change.

What do you mean?

As a defender, you always pay attention to what the attacker might want to do and try to predict their next move, which will be very important when you are the attacker. As a defender, I like to read the game, which makes me more effective as an attacker, giving me confidence and motivation.

Do you analyze your opponents after training?

Before going to bed, I always review my day to see what I did and what I didn't do, and what I need to try again the other day. This is important for concentration, which is all about always analyzing, examining yourself, learning from your mistakes, preparing, and always being ready. That's how you can really concentrate well. We already have concentration within us, we just need to explain to young players how to do it well, and I was very lucky to have wise people around me who taught me that.

In Barcelona, you played defense alongside Thiago Petrus. Did you understand each other well?

I really enjoyed playing with him on the field. He and Ludovic Fabregas are the best defenders I've ever played with on a team. They are both fantastic defenders, smart, they know everything, they analyze everything, they are incredibly calm, which has a very good effect on their teammates. They know when to push and when not to, what to do in each situation.

In 2022, you won the Champions League with Barcelona. How do you remember that time? What led to the final victory? 

Teamwork! This sport is not about the best players, but about the best team. In the 2022 Final Four, I don't think Barcelona was the favorite, we had some home losses, and it wasn't our best season, but the team worked as one. In this sport, that's the strongest weapon. If you have the best players in the world playing handball for you, but you don't have a good team, it will be very difficult to win, or stay at the top. No single player can lead a team to victory in the long run. And now we can return to Pasqui, who is very good at building a team. Brick by brick. In a match, the first goal is just as important as the last, it counts just as much in terms of victory. You think you won with the last goal, but if you hadn't scored the first, you wouldn't have won. It's a matter of perspective, and I think that's the attitude you need to build a team.

What motivates you the most?

Winning the Champions League. My goal has always been to win everything with my team; that's what being a professional athlete is all about. I believed in the project in Bucharest, and I believe in it in Veszprém too. The opportunity is there, but we have to go out there and grab it, fight for it. That's what motivates me, that's what makes me truly happy.

MEGOSZTÁS