Anett Németh is satisfied with everything at her current team, Perugia, which won its first victory against Cuneo on Sunday in the Italian women’s league, which is considered one of the strongest leagues in the world.
The 25-year-old diagonal forward transferred from Pineroló to the new team in the summer, which counts on him as a key player: Németh has played practically every match and leads the relevant ranking with 189 points scored in nine matches.
“It was good to finally win, especially because we played our last few matches against top teams, so we were waiting to meet an opponent against whom we can show where we are” – said Németh when asked by MTI, who, as the best player in the field, contributed to the success of his team with 20 points, with which he was also chosen as the most valuable player of the match. The 51-time national team player said that until now, they might only have had a real chance of winning against their previous team, Pinerolo, but three days before that meeting, they had a five-set match, and then they traveled eight hours by bus for the match, so the conditions there were not really ideal.
Anett Németh continues her career in Perugia
“Now the games are coming, in which if we can play like last weekend, we can get more victories. We want to show an ever-improving and more stable game” – looked forward to Németh, who was previously voted the most valuable player in the German top flight.
Answering a question about Perugia, a newcomer in Serie A, he pointed out that for now he got what he expected, he is happy that he has a lot of responsibility, they count on him, and everything that made him change has worked out so far.
“Everything at the club is very positive, the organization and preparation are better than at Pineroló, it seems that I have joined a team with more experience at the top. The team’s game is also starting to come together, but I didn’t have any problems with fitting in, especially since I have two teammates with whom I have played before.” – Németh referred to the Romanian Adelina Budai-Ungurean and the German Anastasia Cekulaev, the former of whom he was on the same team with in the previous season, and the latter in the German Potsdam
Anett Németh: I have improved the most so far in the Italian league in attack
In response to the question about the national team, he said that he was happy that the national team returned to the top division of the Europa League after a one-year break, because this way they can play against stronger teams all summer long.
“We tried to have a positive attitude towards the silver division this year, but we only had one or two meetings that really helped our preparation. Next year, however, we will be able to play higher-quality matches against strong national teams, which will be a great help in preparing for the European Championship qualifiers.” Anett Németh looked ahead.
The Hungarian national team ended this year’s European qualifiers with two victories, so it has a good chance to be at the continental tournament for the sixth time in a row. The Germans – who lead Group B – will first visit Belgium next August and then host the Danes. Out of the seven trios, in addition to the first, the five best runners-up will advance to the 2026 competition, jointly organized by Azerbaijan, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Turkey.
Cover image: Anett Németh played in the group stage of the 2023 European Women’s Volleyball Championship Hungary-Slovenia match (MTI/Zsolt Szigetváry)
How does Anett Németh’s experience with Perugia differ from her previous teams, and what role do her fellow teammates play in this transition?
Thank you for joining us today, Anett. First of all, we would like to congratulate you and your team on your recent victory against Cuneo in the Italian women’s league. Can you tell us more about the atmosphere within the team after this significant win?
Anett Németh: Thank you. The atmosphere in the team is very positive, as we played some tough matches against top teams before finally winning. It feels good to finally secure a win, especially after such a long wait. We’ve been working hard to improve our game and it showed on the court last Sunday.
Your performance was outstanding, scoring 20 points and being named the most valuable player of the match. What was your approach to this game, and how do you maintain your focus and consistency throughout the season?
Anett Németh: My approach is always to give my best during every game. I try to be consistent with my training and maintain a positive mindset. It’s also important to communicate well with my teammates and trust each other on the court. Perugia is a strong team, and everyone has a role to play. I’m happy to be a key player for them, but it’s the teamwork that makes us successful.
You mentioned joining Perugia this season and mentioned that they are a team with more experience at the top. How have you found the transition so far, and what do you think sets Perugia apart from other teams in the league?
Anett Németh: The transition has been smooth so far. The level of preparation and organization here is better than what I experienced previously. The team’s game is also starting to come together, and I’m happy with the responsibility they have given me. Besides, I have two teammates with whom I have played before, which makes the transition easier. Perugia has a great mix of experience and young talent, and we are all working hard to improve the team’s performance.
Moving on to the national team, Hungary recently qualified for the European Championship. How do you feel about this achievement, and what were some of the challenges faced during the qualifiers?
Anett Németh: I’m very excited about qualifying for the European Championship again. This year’s qualifiers were difficult, but we remained positive and focused on our goals. Play
