Csaba brings the international language of football to Gorgie

Published Date: 27 December 2008
WELL-TRAVELLED Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo has been a breath of fresh air to Scottish football since taking charge in the summer, with his outspoken views and sense of humour. Here the Evening News recalls some of the Hungarian's most memorable comments...
"If Chelsea come in today and offer us £20million, I say immediately, 'I will drive you to Chelsea'"

On reported interest in Hearts midfielder Larry Kingston

"My wife is the only one who can control me"

Did Csaba expect to be controlled by Vladimir Romanov? Doesn't look like it

"I can't speak to the newspapers after we lose a match and say, 'I don't know what happened because he told me to play this guy or that guy'. I make the decisions"

Laszlo makes it clear he would choose the team rather than be influenced by Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov.

"I don't sleep. I only sleep maybe two or three hours a night. I am a hard worker and I like pressure. I spend many hours working at my job. There is pressure in everyday life, the question is: can you live with it?"

Laszlo alluding to being something of a football insomniac.

"If I don't have a target for my job. if I don't believe in myself, then I think I must look for another job in an office, in front of a computer. I like my job and I will give not 100 or 200 per cent to this club, but 1000 per cent to Hearts"

Showing his commitment to the maroon cause.

If Mr Romanov has an idea, he calls me. Even the other day he told me, 'this is my idea. Come, we'll sit together and discuss it'. This is fantastic. At the moment the relationship is very like family, we have a very good harmony even in the technical team. We won't go behind anybody"

Laszlo on his relationship with Romanov.

"It had been about 15 years before the coach from Ferencvaros had his name sung. Yet after the fifth or sixth game in the league they sung my name 'Csaba Laszlo'. This was a nice feeling. I would very much like the same thing at Hearts"

On wanting to be accepted by the Hearts fans.

"Football, for me, has an emotional pull. It's a lifestyle and religion for the Scottish people and I think this country is my real football home. This is what I want, what I need."

Laszlo considers Scotland his spiritual home, so enamoured is he with the country's raw passion for football.

"Ask Mr Romanov, I am Csaba Laszlo"

After Steve Banks had been demoted to the role of youth-team goalkeeping coach at Hearts, Laszlo was asked if it was viable to keep someone at Hearts who has been described by the club owner as 'untrustworthy'.

"I don't go into your family and ask why you divorced from your wife. This is your problem. This is our problem and we made a decision for the club"

On the Banks situation again.

"If a father has responsibility for his children he must take the responsibility. I want the youth coaches to be fathers and help the younger players grow"

On the Tynecastle youth policy.

"Bajevski sent me a text a few days ago but I am a Scottish guy now and I don't answer it. I will answer it after the game because it is not good to give information"

When Laszlo was asked by Aleksandar Bajevski, the Macedonian forward who played under Laszlo at Ferencvaros, to provide information on George Burley's Scotland.

"After six minutes it was like somebody putting a knife in your heart"

Laszlo admitting that early lapses in concentration had cost his side dear in the 2-0 defeat by Celtic at Tynecastle in October.

"On the television it is always Rangers, Celtic, Celtic, Celtic, Rangers and Celtic again. The other teams are mentioned maybe only one or two times – and sometimes only if they are playing a game against either Rangers or Celtic"

Laszlo is fed up with the media spotlight being directed at Glasgow's big two.

"Imagine this is a big lake and this is a boat. We don't sit together in the boat, but we take the fishes from the same lake"

When asked how he and his squad had coped with a fraught week where players had failed to receive their pay. Nope, we're not sure either ..

"Do you know how many times in Hungary and Uganda they told me I was crazy? They don't understand"

And all because he believes centre-halves should complement each other..

"When I was at Ferencvaros and I saw an Ujpest fan, he would abuse me. But the other day I was in town and five or six Hibs fans came to me with handshakes and wanted a picture with me. They wished me all the best. My daughter said to me, 'Papa, this is fantastic, they accept you'"

On loving life in the Capital.

Taken from the Scotsman