Mariusz Jop before #WISŁKS: The team is confident and knows its worth

Wisła Kraków faces the second round of their Betclic 1 League campaign. On Saturday afternoon, Mariusz Jop's team will face a team from Łódź. Before the match, Mariusz Jop held a press conference with journalists.

Igor Łasicki and Wiktor Staszak are gradually having their workloads increased.

What's the current status of Anton Chichkan's injury? Do you know if surgery will be necessary? "He's still undergoing rehabilitation, and we're trying to manage it so that surgery isn't necessary." - he replied

How will you cope with the absence of Łukasz Zwoliński in attack? Have you already planned your starting lineup against ŁKS? Who could replace the striker? "We have such variants because we trained different ways of playing in terms of personnel during the preparation period, and one of such variants was the option without Łukasz in attack," he replied.

"One of the players who began pre-season preparations with the first team was Szymon Kawała, a player from the White Star's second team. Will he get a chance to make his debut soon? "I don't want to make any declarations here, because Szymon has indeed been permanently included in training with the first team. However, for me, it's still a period of adaptation for him. He needs time, just like last season with Maciej Kuziemka and Filip Baniowski. These players simply need time to acclimate to the group, to adapt to the demands of the first team. So we have to be patient with Szymon." - he said.

After the very good performances of Julian Lelieveld and Frederico Duarte in Mielec, have these two secured their place in the starting eleven for Saturday's match? "What can I say, ŁKS Łódź will be a more demanding opponent than Stal Mielec. We also have to take into account that the match looked different in the second half, so that's also important. However, there's good competition not only in these two positions, but in others as well. This can only benefit individual players and the entire team. I have an idea in mind, but there's still pre-match training today, so the final decision will be made before the match."

How can you get into the match well from the first minutes and not repeat what happened in Mielec in the first half? "In Mielec, we tried to play what we wanted right away, but it didn't always work out according to the original plan. This was primarily due to the fact that there were many individual losses, it was difficult to get the ball flowing, and there was a situation at the beginning of the match that also slightly shook the team's confidence. Besides, it was the first match, which is always a bit of an unknown. So I think we've got that behind us, and I'm counting on it. I'm also convinced that we'll be at the level we want right away." - he replied.

A big win to open the season - will such a result help the team in the rest of the competition? "We're definitely happy that we played brilliantly. I later read that even during the period when Wisła was in the first league, they hadn't won their first match. So, it's even more satisfying, this good start. However, we're absolutely not thrilled with this high result. We know it was just one match, we're focusing on the next one, and it was the same during every training session this week; there was good concentration, a good attitude. Besides, we have several years of experience and we know how demanding each match is, and there can be absolutely no talk of some attitude or such strong belief in ourselves that we're so fantastic that we can just go halfway. There's absolutely no way that's going to happen. The team is confident, we know our worth, but we also respect our opponent because we know they're a team at the top of the first league," he analyzed.

What to expect from the ŁKS Łódź team? "In the match against Znicz, he showed off his various skills. This is definitely a team that is solid defensively, they are intense, they function well, they are close together in a compact formation, and they are dangerous from set pieces – traits that many teams in the first division possess. And also, on a personal level, it must be said that there are several players with top-flight experience. This squad was assembled quite quickly. This is a group of people who work well together during the pre-season, so it's definitely a good team and a demanding opponent for us in tomorrow's match. One last question, returning a bit to Łukasz's transfer, if you could reveal whether, for example, you had any say in the matter, and also, if so, how uncomfortable it is that he worked through the entire pre-season and then leaves at such an unusual time." - he said.

What variant are you currently working on to replace Łukasz Zwoliński? "For example, Angel at number nine, but that's not the only solution, because Kawała can also be at number nine, and Ardit Nikaj, who is also tested in that position, so we have several options. However, of course, the most tested option, which has been tested for the longest time, is Angel, returning him to number nine." - he said.

Saturday's match will also be an opportunity for a benefit performance for Henryk Kasperczak – both as a player and as a coach. Does the coach have any memories of him? "Yes, definitely an outstanding figure, not only as a player, but also as a coach, because I think few coaches abroad win the laurels of being named the best coach of the season. Coach Kasperczak was one of his few achievements, because we remember both his work with the national team and that fantastic period at Wisła Kraków, probably the best in the club's history, so I have very fond memories. A man who was decisive, who knew how to talk to the players, who knew what he wanted. He was the person who introduced the four-back system to Wisła Kraków at the time, knowing more about what they expected from the players than previous coaches, so he was definitely an outstanding figure when it comes to Polish club football." - he concluded.

How is the acclimatization process going for players who recently joined the team? "Every training session, every week, works to the advantage of these players, because, as I said, they came to us at different stages of their preparation, primarily physical. I think that in terms of adapting to the group, understanding with their teammates, it's at a very good level here. These are players, and above all, people, who are very friendly and communicative, so that's also a very important element. Of course, not all of them yet feel the atmosphere we have at the stadium. They'll have the opportunity to experience it tomorrow, but I think that, as I said, each day, each week, favors them and brings them closer to their optimal performance."

Wisła Kraków fans could see in yesterday's photos that Rafał Mikulec is slowly returning to form. What's his health situation like? It's hard for me to answer that question, as it's more of a question for a doctor, where the most important thing is how the bones will heal and how the leg will react to stress. However, there is progress in his work. He stopped using crutches some time ago. As you noted, he can now ride a bike to help that joint function. He'll probably be able to jog again soon, but I can't say how long that will take.

Wisła Kraków returns to the Round of 22 on Saturday. Their first victory, Angel Rodado's new contract, and a packed house. How's your mental attitude heading into this match? "I think it will be like this; the preparation was like always for every match, and I've already partially answered this question. This victory certainly gave us satisfaction, above all, we have three points, but it in no way affects our attitude towards the next match," concluded the coach.