Mariusz Jop before #HUTWIS: We take this meeting very seriously

Wisła Kraków coach Mariusz Jop took part in a press conference before the round of 16 of the STS Polish Cup, in which the White Star will face Hutnik Kraków.

As we already know, Angel Rodado will miss the Round of 16 match, but is the Spaniard's injury serious? The matter is not that simple. The medical staff will do everything to ensure Angel is ready to play on Sunday.

Does this injury mean the striker will be out for a long time? No, probably not for a few weeks. The joint is swollen now, and some blood has come out. Partly from the impact on the leg. So, as I said, I think Angel should be back to normal by Sunday. Especially knowing his injury history and how quickly he recovers from these situations, I think the chances are good.

Will there be a change in goal? Yes, Kamil Broda will defend.

Besides the goaltending change, can we also expect some changes in the outfield? Not as deep as in the previous round.

The last time the White Star faced Hutnik Kraków was in February during a friendly. Have you been following the Kraków club's fortunes since then? Insofar as I needed to know about this match, I did. That is, how Hutnik has been doing in the league recently, what their results were. Of course, we have analysis, which we presented to the team, on how they defend and attack. Today, the players will receive a portion of information regarding some set pieces, so we're preparing for this match just like any other. And we're taking it very seriously, because we know that the cup has its own rules. And even the fact that Hutnik has lost a few matches recently and drawn the last one doesn't mean it will be an easy match. It will certainly be very difficult. I know that in these small matches, the teams ranked lower show enormous ambition, commitment, and determination. Plus, we also know that the pitch won't be perfect. You can even see it on TV that it's not the same as at Reymonta, so we're ready for it. I think the quality is on our side. But as always, that quality has to be proven on the pitch. There's no other way.

How should I mentally approach a derby match? I never present the team with a vision of what will happen if we lose. I rather talk about what to focus on, what tasks to focus on, what to pay attention to, and simply do our job. That's our goal for every match. Of course, it's not easy for the players, knowing we have a significant lead in the table, to maintain that concentration. Besides the physical fatigue, there's also the emotional fatigue, which is certainly very significant. We know that for every match, not just the match but also the training session, we expect the players to be fully focused, and that's the path to winning and earning points. But tomorrow's match will also carry a similar burden, because even though it's a cup tie, we're playing for victory. That's always the case, and we'll do everything we can to advance to the next round.

What options are you preparing for Angel Rodado? It could be Duarte, it could be Nikaj, it could be Kawała. Those are the three most obvious choices.

Have you analyzed Donald Guerrier? He's a player well-known to Wisła Kraków fans. Could he be a threat to you on the pitch? Of course he can be. He's unpredictable, certainly dangerous in attack. He also makes simple defensive mistakes, but he's not the only one. There's Daniel Hoyo-Kowalski, for example, who, I remember, made his Ekstraklasa debut under Stolarczyk. There are players there associated with Wisła Kraków.

Let's go back for a moment to the 1/32 STS Polish Cup match. Do you feel a threat that it might be difficult to beat a team from a lower league again? I don't remember that match as difficult, because for me, it was only a matter of time before we scored. The opponent posed no threat. However, tomorrow will be a completely different match. Certainly, an opponent with significantly greater skill. And there's always a threat. Every match is difficult, because no one has given up on Wisła Kraków and won't open a scoring opportunity. You just have to fight for it on the pitch, and it will be the same tomorrow.

Will your opponent retreat, forcing you to attack? I'm assuming they'll stay low, wait for us, and rely on set pieces.