Dundee United defender Krisztián Keresztes spoke to the broadcast media to preview our William Hill Premiership clash with Motherwell on Matchday 29.

The Hungarian disussed the Terrors’ approach to thwarting the top-flight’s most in-form side, reflected on his time in tangerine so far and underlined the importance of clean sheets heading into the final weeks of the campaign.

ON A TRIP TO FIR PARK

We will meet a pretty good team who are performing really well this season. They play in their own half when they need to, like to play short passes, and if we push really high, they try to use the space behind us. 

They could hurt us there, but we try to keep the ball in their half, press them, and see what happens. If you get three points, you get closer because we have one game in hand against St. Mirren. If we win, maybe we can put some pressure on Falkirk, but we will see.

It will be a really difficult game. We haven’t won as many games as we expected, so we have to start winning and start performing.

ON ADAPTING TO DIFFERENT OPPOSITION

It’s all about adaptation and how teams play. In this league, it’s interesting because teams play in different ways. St Mirren and Motherwell play with different styles: one with long balls, one with short passes. That’s the beauty of football and you have to learn to adapt.

You cannot tell others how to play - you can only control your own performance. It’s interesting and it gives you experience. You always learn from it.

One week you play against a team that uses short passes, and the next week against a team that plays long balls, fights for second balls, and plays physically. It’s all about adapting and managing the game to win.

If you get a clean sheet, the worst outcome is 0–0. We’ve tried different things and they haven’t worked out, but in the last game we defended well - I’m really happy about that. Now we have to focus on the next game and keeping clean sheets because if we do that, we have a good chance.

 

ON A LEARNING CURVE FOR THE SQUAD

We were really close to winning a number of times. For me, the worst ones were the two draws against Rangers because we would have had really good results if we could manage the lead. But we conceded at the end, whether that was a penalty at Tannadice, or one good counter-attack at Ibrox

Besides that, there were a lot of games we could have won. It shows a bit of inexperience, but we are trying to learn - we are still a young team. We try to learn in these situations and manage games as well as possible and we are improving at that.

We should have won more, that’s true, but there is always another chance in football and we always try to take the next one.

ON THE QUALITY WITHIN THE DRESSING ROOM

We have unbelievable quality in the squad. I see many players with real quality, which not many teams have, and we are still young. These players are still learning. I’m getting a little older now! I turned 26 in January. I’m still young, but I’m almost one of the oldest players here.

That is maybe the main reason why we sometimes cannot manage games and win them. If you watch Hearts, they are quite an experienced team. They know how to win games - that is the most important thing in football.

We have a good manager who helps us and teaches us in the right way. If something is wrong, he tells us, and he always tries to help. We are learning, improving and we will see if we get the result at the weekend. 

ON HIS LONG-TERM FUTURE

I don’t know anything about my future because I try to focus on my performance. We will see what happens. I have a contract until the end of the season and I’ve really enjoyed my time here. 

I love the people, I love the work rate, and I really appreciated the welcome I got when I arrived. I try to give something back with my performances and be the best version of myself every day. 

You never know what will happen in football, but I’ve enjoyed my time here and I love playing for Dundee United.

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