Jop: The players approached the first training session with great energy

On January 7th, the Wisła Kraków team met in Myślenice for their first training session. As preparations began, we asked coach Mariusz Jop about organizational matters.

"The first week is an introductory one. We'll focus on performance, strength, functional, blood tests, as well as cardiology, endurance with a mask, and speed tests, so we have a lot of parameters to check. The players look fresh and well-rested. It's clear they conscientiously followed their individual schedules during the break, and they're also mentally well-disposed. The players approached their first training session with great energy and verve, which is very positive," began coach Mariusz Jop. "The second week will be a more demanding period, and we'll end this period with a friendly. Then the workload at the camp will peak, including four friendly matches in Turkey. After our return, we'll probably play one more friendly before the league, and that will be the starting point for us to enter the typical micro-cycle of the season," explained the coach.

The team's health situation has improved. Only Marc Carbó and Joseph Colley were missing from Myślenice. "Apart from Marek, Igor, and Joseph, everyone was available. Bartek Talar is being introduced calmly, without any contact with an opponent for now. We want to ease him into the game after a long break. Everything looks optimistic at the moment; he's not complaining about any problems. Igor Łasicki is training individually at the center, Joseph Colley is still working in Sweden, and Marc is in Spain but will join us for a camp in Turkey. He still has an orthopedic boot, so there's not much he can do," he explained.

On the last day of December 2024, coach Mariusz Jop extended his contract with Wisła Kraków. "Of course, this makes me feel supported by the club's management, because the contract extension demonstrates just that. However, I realize that a coach's job is closely linked to results. There's not much time in this profession, so this extension is symbolic, but we know that in football, things happen. I'm not focused on the length of my contract, but on making the Wisła team look their best in training and in matches – friendly or league. That's part of my job," he concluded.