Jop: Three points is our goal

On Friday evening, the White Star will play Polonia Warszawa in the 19th round of the Betclic 1 League. Coach Mariusz Jop met with journalists at an online conference before the match.

Excluded from the match are: Joseph Colley, Bartosz Talar, Enis Fazlagić and James Igbekeme.

James Igbekeme's health problems surfaced on Thursday morning. The coach commented: "James felt unwell this morning, and after consulting with our physiotherapist, we decided to examine him more thoroughly because he felt discomfort in his chest. However, it was unrelated to training. He simply suddenly felt worse. He's undergoing final tests, but all the worst-case scenarios have been ruled out, so we hope he'll be back with us soon," he began.

The R22 team wants to avenge Polonia's defeat in the Polish Cup. "It's natural that the players were angry and unhappy. This is a normal situation, but the closer the match gets, the more motivated they become. We're definitely hungry for revenge and want to prove that we can play well, that we can play effectively and win matches," he said. "I think they're a conscious, ambitious, and athletically driven team. Of course, I feel the same way, because like the players, I don't like losing and I have a sporting anger inside me. It's the same among the players, and I think there was absolutely no need to lift anyone up, because we played a good match. There were a few key moments that decided Polonia's advancement. However, if we look at the match overall, there were a lot of good moments. I think we need to repeat the positives in Friday's match and pay particular attention to the areas where Polonia excels. This should give us the opportunity to bring three points to Krakow. That's our goal," he added.

The Warsaw team utilized wing play during the Polish Cup on Tuesday, something the Kraków team needs to take note of: "I don't think much will change in terms of Polonia's play. We definitely need to be more effective in duels in this zone. That's the recipe, because these weren't beautiful or multi-passing plays, but rather simple plays. Plays that are repetitive in this team. We need to focus even more, be even better in duels, because our opponents were scoring goals too easily," he analyzed.

On Tuesday, Angel Rodado missed his penalty. Does this affect the penalty kick schedule? "Everyone is entitled to a mistake, to make a mistake. In my opinion, it doesn't change anything. It must also be said that the opposing goalkeeper performed brilliantly, so it wasn't some poorly executed penalty kick where the player was trying to play tricks, lob some loose ball, or create some strange, unusual situations. He hit it hard, the goalkeeper reacted well, sensed the intentions, and that happens," he noted.

Frederico Duarte, who played in the number 9 position, showed his strength. Does this mean he could be an option for Rodado and Zwoliński? "I've said before that if we treat Rodado as a number 10, there's less competition at number 9. Duarte was tested at number 9 in training and looked promising. That's why I decided to let him play in the Polish Cup from the start. I think we've gained a player for that position, as the competition on the wing is much greater. He sent a positive signal, because it must be said that he also worked very hard for the team beyond the goals. He ran over 15 kilometers in Tuesday's match, so besides scoring two nice goals, he also showed through his work that he can be counted on. I'm glad we have a player who will now be pushing hard for the starting eleven," he said.

The Wisła Kraków team stayed in Warsaw, where they prepared for their next match: "It depended on the weather. The weather is good, the temperature is above freezing, and there was no frost at night, so the best solution for us was to train on a full-size grass pitch. We have such a pitch available here, so we're using it."

Mariusz Jop's players have 120 minutes left in their legs. Has this fact also affected their preparations for the match? "It hasn't really hindered our plans. Of course, there are a few players who played 120 minutes, and they are treated a little differently. Those who played 60 minutes or more are treated differently still. And those who didn't play at all are treated even differently. Here, we worked in groups, and on the one hand, I'm glad that the players who started showed their good side. They showed that they can be counted on. On the other hand, the fact that Angel came on for 25 minutes, "Zwolo" came on for 60 minutes, and other players, I don't think it had any impact on Friday's match." Everyone is prepared, everyone is ready to play," he explained. "It's certainly a fact that the players have a lot on their feet for these matches. That's why I decided to rest some players, to use those who are fresher. This is precisely to rotate and optimize these workloads in a way that benefits the players—not just their athletic performance, but also their health. I wouldn't look for any excuses here. Everyone is ready, everyone wants to play. We're hungry for revenge, and I absolutely won't make excuses, saying the team is tired. Absolutely not! We're ready to play 90 minutes and more," he assured.

Would the coach field the same starting eleven that played on Tuesday? "Yes. This team – let me remind you – this starting eleven played a great first half. Of course, we conceded goals in the second half, but those were goals due to individual errors rather than any systematic or tactical missteps by our team," he said, referring to whether any of the players impressed him with their performances: "I wouldn't want to judge players individually, but – as I said earlier – many players showed their good side and confirmed that they put a lot of pressure on those who played more earlier."

What should the White Star focus on on Friday to secure a spot in the top flight? "I think it's what I said before the first match, and what was confirmed during the match, namely that Polonia has a strong number nine, a player who can hold onto the ball, who can create that moment when the opponent can "hook" in a positional attack or a fast attack. Plus the wings, who are certainly dangerous, good in duels, and quick. These are the elements that allow Polonia to win matches and score points, because, let me remind you, this is a team that has been doing very well in the league recently," concluded coach Mariusz Jop.