Stańkowski: I am happy to be part of this family

The first tournament of the new Amp Fubol Ekstraklasa season is behind us, with Wisła Kraków playing three matches, showing excellent form right from the start. After the matches, we spoke with the team's new goalkeeper, Gabriel Stańkowski.

The White Star has a perfect record after three matches. "Our main goal was to return from Poznań with nine points, and we achieved that. We scored twenty-two goals in three matches, which is a significant result," noted the Wisła goalkeeper, adding, "We only conceded one, but that was against our toughest opponent, Śląsk Wrocław. We can return to Kraków satisfied and proud of ourselves."

Wisła's performance proved that they can once again compete for the highest honors in Poland, including the Champions League. "We want to win the Polish championship for the fifth time in a row and the Champions League again. We will fight until the last tournament," Stańkowski assured.

By far the toughest match for Wisła was against Śląsk Wrocław, a team aspiring to be the best team in Poland. "We certainly expected Śląsk to take this match with aplomb. I think every match against them will be worth its weight in gold now, as they are a team that is a contender to win the league. We definitely want to put as much pressure on them as possible," commented the goalkeeper, continuing: "We were ready for this match; we wanted to win it. The opponent had their chances, it was a tough match, but we were more fortunate. We also made fewer mistakes. Leaving them behind in the table at this point is a big advantage for us," he said.

Gabriel Stańkowski is one of the new faces in the team from Wawel. How did the negotiations with Wisła Kraków go? "My move to Wisła Kraków began at the end of last season. I must admit that I have a very good relationship with the Polish national team players who play for Wisła on a daily basis. We had a few conversations, but I told myself I wanted to fight for the highest goals," the goalkeeper noted, adding: "This is definitely a dream come true. Wisła is the best team in Europe, if not the world. It's like joining FC Barcelona or Real Madrid in eleven-a-side football. I'm happy to play for such a fantastic team, which has welcomed me so well. The atmosphere is fantastic. When I get out of bed, I'm happy to be part of this family."

The competition for the goalkeeping position at Wisła Kraków is demanding. How does the new White Star goalkeeper view it? "We currently have three highly skilled goalkeepers, but we support each other. The competition is fierce at every training camp and practice. We give everything we have to earn a spot in the lineup. None of us gives up; we want to keep getting better. It's safe to say that Wisła currently has the best goalkeepers in Poland."

Finally, Stańkowski spoke about his individual and team goals for the coming months. "My goal is to win the Champions League. If that happens, I'll win this trophy for the first time. In Poland, it's definitely a championship title. And personal goals? Becoming the second or third goalkeeper for the Polish national team. Going to the Nations League, because that's where I made my debut for the national team. It would be great to return to that tournament. As captain of the youth national team, the trip to Turkey in July is important to us. We want to showcase our high skills there," he concluded.