Exciting times for Ádám Nagy at home and abroad

"Obviously I don't think anything else could have been expected other than it being a great experience for me and my teammates", Nagy explains. "Not even photos of the stadium in advance could tell us how it would really be, but it was such a upliftingly good feeling, an unbelievable greatness, to look up at the people all the way to the top from the pitch. Obviously it's an extra motivation for all of us that we could qualify for a future tournament in which we would be able to play some of our matches on home soil, so we've been saying all week that no one needs any extra motivation for the match against Wales tomorrow. We've received a taster against Uruguay of the kind of atmosphere which would await us in this stadium - it would be a real cauldron - so now it just depends on us to bring it to reality".

Nagy's season is really only just beginning after recovery from an ankle injury which took longer to heal than originally hoped and means he's only played five matches so far this term. Now though, the good news is he feels ready to again show how influential he can be in the midfield engine room for both club and country.

"There's no pain or discomfort", the former Hungarian league and cup winner with Ferencváros assures us. "The injury was to the ankle ligaments and happened when I took an unlucky step rather than getting kicked, so it happened because of a bad step. The interior and anterior ligaments in the ankle were damaged but unfortunately there was also an extra bit of bone left in there from an earlier, childhood injury and this slowed the regeneration and recovery. Unfortunately, for several reasons, I think I was out for longer than I needed to be, but now I feel I've totally recovered and I can play without any complaints. Obviously the final decision (to play against Slovakia in September) was absolutely mine and I took that decision because I wanted to play and because I knew just how crucial, how important a game, awaited us. However, the decision I made set my rehabilitation, my recovery, back. It was a decision I took on my own and I'm just happy that I can put it all behind me now. It's something a person can learn from, so if I find myself in a similar situation in years to come, I'll know what decision to make. At the same time, I still need a little time - such as Friday's 25-30 minutes on the pitch - for my body and mind to get up to speed so that in my head I can think quickly, and make the right decisions when I'm playing, and this will come with matches. I'm very happy that I was able to play for my club last weekend too, so now I feel that I'm back on track".

That track throws up an immediate and significant challenge, Hungary's final UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying group fixture against Wales in Cardiff, which sees the two nations go head to head knowing the winner will qualify automatically for next year's tournament, which features Budapest as one of its host cities. Nagy is remarkably composed about the prospect though, no doubt becalmed by his experience four years ago when he helped Hungary defeat Norway in a two-legged play-off to reach their first European Championship for 44 years.

"We all know how important and how crucial Tuesday's match is and it's not by accident that people are talking about it as the most important match of the year. We can take it even further though and say that for some players, it will be one of the most important games of their whole careers, as it's been a very long time since we've qualified for the European Championship straight from our group. We haven't really talked about (having another chance to qualify via the Nations League play-offs in spring) as we're just focused on this match and not on any other possibilities. This is the type of opportunity in regard to which we don't need to take into account other factors or pray for help; our fate is absolutely in our own hands in that if we win on Tuesday and gain the three points,  we will qualify direct from the group and everyone can return to their clubs knowing that next year we will play on home soil in front of capacity crowds in the European Championship. Therefore, all our concentration and focus is on Tuesday's match. Of course, we know the burden on us but I don't feel we see it as pressure, as perhaps there was against the Norwegians, but more as motivation. At a certain level in sport, one has to be able to mould the burden (of responsibility) into motivation. We shouldn't let it weigh on ourselves".

The emotions in play are surely different for those in the squad who were on that journey four years ago, which culminated in topping their group in France after a 3-3 draw against eventual winners Portugal and brave defeat to Belgium in the first knockout stage, as opposed to those felt by the newer, younger members of the squad. However, Nagy is in no doubt that the blend is right under their Italian coach Marco Rossi.

"I feel it's very important that we have balance in the squad, which means we have experienced players who understand how it is to play in such a crucial match, having played in the Norway matches and earlier ones, and we have youngsters who haven't experienced these types of matches yet, but are hungry for success and want to show what they can do. This is not only because they want the nation to be as unbelievably proud of them as they are of the others, but also because for our players this is a huge opportunity, for if we qualify, we can show our abilities in front of the whole world - we can catch the whole world's attention and announce: ’We are here, we are Hungarian, don't hesitate to reach out to us’. I'm sure that those who haven't experienced this type of match before aren't going to be scared, but that they'll adopt our feelings on how important and significant this match is. This won't put us under pressure though, but rather everyone will take a deep breath and use it as extra motivation that the whole country is behind us and that they want us to win".

And how important to the country would it be to reach a second European Championship in a row, this time in one where at least two of their matches will be played in the new national stadium, the 67,000-capacity Puskás Aréna?

"There are several areas of importance and significance in regard to qualifying for the Euros next year, one of which is that at such time, Hungarian hearts beat to the same rhythm and the country is together, sharing a mutual aim which they'd like to achieve, a supporter knowing that the player are trying to reach that aim out on the pitch and that they can contribute too (with their support). That's a great thing in a country. Of course, there is a financial consideration too in that fans will be thinking: "Wow, if we can qualify, the tournament will be here at home; just think how happy the people will be!". There are several things - obviously if I look at it from a technical point of view within the sport, youngsters may look at our qualification and say: 'I want to be a footballer for the national team too!' Then they will come to the stadium and see us out there, which will be such a huge experience for them that they will fight to achieve this for themselves. So this kind of success can bring great things with it, so much so that there are only positives to be said".

So the rewards would be big for every Hungarian football supporter, but the obstacle which looms in front of them is also large. Wales were UEFA EURO 2016 semi-finalists, having sensationally knocked out Hungary's conquerers Belgium in the quarter-finals. With multiple UEFA Champions League winner Gareth Bale in their ranks and an array of players from top European clubs such as Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur, there is no doubt that victory would be the highlight of many of the Hungarian player's careers so far. Nagy, as thoughtful and considered as ever with his replies, is clear where each side's strengths lie.

"No one needs introducing to this Wales team, which is made up of very good players. I feel they may have one or two better players individually speaking, bigger names, but that as a team and a unit, we are better and stronger than them and I think this is a very strong base for a national team, where everyone helps each other. I think it'll need a huge performance on Tuesday and to leave there (from Cardiff) with three points we'll have to leave our hearts out there on the pitch, fight for each other and fight for our nation. If we're compact and organised in defence and play in a structured way so that we build attacks from the back, we can get the ball to our forwards in good positions and they will score".

These international fixtures often throw up nice coincidences of club players facing each other on the international stage and it's true for Nagy this time too. One of his new Bristol City teammates since the Hungarian's summer move to England is none other than Wales captain Ashley Williams and naturally they've exchanged thoughts on their upcoming contest in a somewhat unexpectedly familiar venue.

"Of course, I've spoken with Ashley about it and interestingly our last club match was away in the Cardiff City Stadium, so after the match we said to each other in the dressing room that we'd meet at the stadium again in ten days' time, but on opposing sides this time, not in the same team. I very much hope I'll be the one smiling at the end and that I'll be able to tease him a bit about us beating them".

Naturally, Nagy is ambitious to make the most of his potential and that extends not only to Hungary's return to the international spotlight, but also to reaching the elite at club level too. Presumably Bristol City share his sentiment?

"At the beginning of the year, the club said it was aiming for promotion and finished just outside the play-off places. That is obviously the aim this season too, ideally automatically via a top-two finish or via the play-offs, which are contested by the teams which finish third to sixth. It's very tight at the top of the Championship with five points separating the leaders and us in sixth place, so I'm very much hoping for a successful year ahead with both my club and my national team".

These are clearly exciting times for Ádám Nagy; let's hope his road to success continues unabated with the Hungarian national squad in Cardiff tomorrow!