Mariusz Jop before #PGMWIS: We know what we are playing for
Coach Mariusz Jop before the match against Pogoń: Kacper Duda and Darijo Grujcić are ready to play, with intense competition in key positions. The coach analyzes the opponent and also discusses the return of Marko Bozić.
"Regarding Kacper and Darijo, both trained fully throughout the week. They look physically sound, so they're being considered for the starting eleven. I'm pleased that we have very good competition in some positions. The center back and, let's say, the 10-8-6 position are very well staffed. This only contributes to the team's development. This week's training was very good. This competition is visible not only in the positions mentioned, but in several others as well. I'm glad that this training environment is structured in such a way that individual development of the players is visible, and this will also contribute to the quality of our team in the long run," coach Jop began the press conference.
Was the conceded goal against GKS Tychy analyzed by the staff?
"First of all, I'd like to mention that the Tychy player made a great move here, sliding blindly. It wasn't an interception, but Mark simply hit the player who was sliding, so it was definitely a very good move. However, the details are such that we need movement to the ball to lose the opponent and give ourselves more time with the ball. That's one thing. Two, play harder, maybe a little earlier, because generally speaking, from the pressing side, it was a play for the third, so that was something we wanted to do. Of course, it's always a decision whether I want to play in the middle or play safely in the wide area. This is one of the options we use. We will continue to use it. It also gives us this way of playing. It concentrates the opposing team in the middle and opens up other spaces on the pitch, which we have been using and will continue to use," the coach concluded.
The pitch in Pruszków will not be prepared like here – the best in Poland.
"Of course, we're taking the pitch condition into account. We haven't seen the pitch yet. We've only seen it on video and we'll see it live on matchday. We also have other solutions, simpler ones, when it comes to opening the game from the goal. Of course, in terms of the surface condition, it probably won't be as good as our pitch. We'll see how disadvantageous it is. I think it's quite simple that a team that has more possession, that exchanges more passes, will have a harder time maintaining their form on such a pitch. It's easier to defend and look for quick attacks. However, I can say that the goals we've scored recently have been from the midfield, in transition phases, and from set pieces. This is also an element we've been working on, which is bringing us tangible results. It also provides an alternative to our play, not only to positional attacking, but also to using this transition phase, from the midfield or deep position. We have various options to exploit, and there will probably be phases of the game where we'll also use this formation." - he said.
Pogoń without its best scorer.
"I think that losing a key player is definitely not a positive impulse for the team. It was talked about long beforehand, so the team probably considered such a solution. I'm referring to our rival. I wouldn't want to focus on that; it's not our issue, we're focused on what we have to do," he replied curtly.
Aspects to improve after the last meeting.
"I think the first thought that comes to mind is to create more chances. We had the seeds of those chances. However, sometimes we lacked accuracy in passing, or capitalizing on moments where there was a good cross, or a good 3v2 situation in a fast attack or 4v4, or the use of space behind the ball, a more precise pass, or better decision-making. These were elements that resulted from a lower fluidity of play than usual. This was due to the long break, and the fact that we train on much worse pitches, and that also matters and translates into the match later," explained the Wisła coach.
Characteristics of the rival.
"I think this is a team that, because they have a lot of points, more than many coaches, experts, and I think Pogoń's players themselves expected, gives them such freedom in ball control and peace of mind. I think this is a team that builds their attacks in an interesting way and attacks with a large number of players, especially in the penalty area. Sometimes there are five, six players, sometimes even seven. This is something that doesn't happen very often in our league. The team is quite intense, has several young players who, of course, when they get the wind in their sails, can do interesting things, but they also make mistakes, as young players do. Set pieces are definitely dangerous, they have several tall players. It's an interesting team. It's no coincidence that they scored as many points as they did at home. They don't usually lose, they probably haven't lost at home at all, so they feel good on this pitch, at home, not exactly at home, but in Pruszków. They feel good there, certainly mentally, and the feeling that they haven't lost there, "That's also something that gives them extra energy. We'll see if they're brave enough to go higher, because Coach Stokowiec's teams, as the statistics confirm, tend to sit back a bit, wait for their opponent, and then build quick attacks from there. We'll see. I'm curious myself. We're prepared for various scenarios," Coach Jop analyzed.
Wisła is considered one of the favorites, but we need to keep a cool head.
"I think Wisła Kraków has been the favorite ever since they were relegated from the Ekstraklasa, which has been the case for the past four years. Nothing has changed here, as expectations are always very high. I don't think there's any need to motivate the players or remind them about humility, about what's important in the next match, about what's important in our philosophy. We have very conscious people who also have experience in this league, and I don't think we need to look for additional motivation. We know what we're playing for, what our goal is, we know the path to achieving it, how we should approach training and matches, so I won't repeat myself and remind them of these main guidelines. We simply have to do our job."
Szymon Kawała's situation.
"I could see he was really upset about it, because when he got his time in the league match, he just wanted to show his best. It was a completely fortuitous situation, with the free kick and the red card, a deserved red card, because he was late in blocking the ball. The opponent managed to get his leg in, and it looked very ugly. Fortunately, nothing happened to him. "Kawi" has to pay for two matches. I saw absolutely no intention on his part, no desire to aggressively get in. It was just a desire to block the ball, but it turned out so badly that he deserved a red card," he defended our player.
Pogoń takes a lot of shots from distance.
"They're definitely looking for shots from further away. I also remember the match in Kraków where they tried to do that, but also in other matches. Of course, it depends on the situation, how much we're defending deep. Because in the transition phase, they're also looking for through passes, they're looking for crosses into the penalty area from various positions. Of course, it's part of the game of football; they look for it like most teams," he said.
The course of Marko Bozic's rehabilitation.
"Marko is making progress; he's already running at over 20 km/h in training. Of course, he's still a long way off from starting ball drills and joining the group. We have to be patient here. I think it could realistically be after the international break. What happens before then? We'll see it as something extra," he explained.
Can you compare the first round match against the team from Grodzisk Mazowiecki?
"They were brave back then, they went high back then. I wonder if they'll have that same courage in this match. Because, as the statistics confirm, Coach Stokowiec's teams tend to sit back a bit, wait for their opponent, and only then build quick attacks. We'll see. I'm curious myself. We're prepared for various scenarios," he mused.
A two-forward game is being considered: Rodado, Sanchez?
“Of course, this is one of the variants,” he replied succinctly.
Results in other matches a surprise?
"We're primarily looking at ourselves. I don't find the results surprising. There were a lot of draws. In fact, Wieczysta, Polonia, and ŁKS gained points. Maybe they didn't gain, but they didn't lose points to us, because we won too. I think there will be a lot of draws, a lot of matches where unpredictable teams will win. The pack chasing us is very evenly matched; there are many teams there aiming for promotion to the Ekstraklasa, so it will certainly encourage these teams to drop points because the field is very evenly matched. But it will only make sense if we do our job, which is to win, score, and add more points. That's how we approach it. We focus on ourselves," replied the White Star coach confidently.
Piotr Starzyński and his situation in the team.
"Piotrek is getting more and more involved with the team. He spent the last week with the second team so he could fully participate in every training session. The plan is for him to play briefly in the second team's friendly. He's currently gaining that confidence through the second team," concluded coach Mariusz Jop.
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