Coaching duo: #WISGKŁ

The #WISGKŁ match was a thrilling one, with the White Star players emerging victorious, and only one coach had reason to celebrate. Watch the press conference.

Pavol Staňo - Górnik Łęczna

"When we came to Krakow, we were thinking about how this match could go. Wisła has great quality, so we made some changes to the formation, we positioned the players differently. We had our own game plan for this match. Statistically, of course, Wisła looked better, but I think the chances we had in the first half, in those transitional phases, were very, very good, and I think we should have finished it with at least 100% chances. Then it would have looked a little different statistically. Overall, I was satisfied after the first half. I think we played quite well. In the second half, it's clear that we started a little weaker. Wisła pushed us into the penalty area, but we were still dangerous on the counterattack. After a mistake by the goalkeeper, we had the numerical advantage. I thought this match would be more in our control, but the goal changed a lot. Wisła controlled the final part of the match well. Overall, I don't have many things to criticize about my players, except for the quality in some situations. The boys worked 100%. It was a good spectacle, a very good opponent, and "I think this match was always on the line, one way or the other. Unfortunately, we didn't get a point. We need to keep our heads up and prepare for the next matches, because I think we're capable of collecting points, and this streak needs to break. I hope it happens as soon as possible," said the visiting coach.

When asked if the coach didn't blame his players for missing opportunities on the power play, he replied: "The statistics probably show what you're saying. However, we need to analyze what happened calmly. The crosses into the penalty area were definitely lacking quality. The ball took a long time to travel, both to the defenders and to the goalkeeper, which was easy. We had the opportunity to prepare crosses that were certainly of better quality, and perhaps we would have scored something more. However, after the red card, there was a strange moment. On the one hand, we felt we could win the match, but on the other, we felt a bit pressured to chase the score. And we saw for ourselves that we lacked patience, or that these crosses lacked quality and there were too many of them. And that's why we didn't get to the point of being so close to the penalty area. We lost possession, and Wisła launched counterattacks that also stinked of goal. So we need to practice playing on the power play, which we perhaps weren't prepared for."

Mariusz Jop - Wisla Kraków

"I think that today we deserve great words of appreciation and congratulations for the team, but also for the fans, who really supported us very strongly, and in this difficult moment you could feel that the energy they gave to the players gave us wings, and that was also very, very important. I am glad that the team, apart from the quality they have, showed the will to fight, character, tenacity and dedication. This is something that is very important - especially in this league. And when it comes to football, I think we were the team that took the initiative from the very beginning, was aggressive, and created chances. Of course, in the first half we were not effective, but we were a team that creates these chances. You could say that the opponent, apart from set pieces, which also resulted in nothing, did not pose a threat in front of our goal. However, they certainly tried to attack quickly, they were definitely dangerous, and one such situation that seemed very easy to get out of because there was no great pressure - just an individual mistake, which can happen to anyone... In the end, the situation was such that after the red card we in "With ten players, we were able to, firstly, not concede a goal and, secondly, score a goal, so I am very happy that the three points stayed in Kraków," the coach concluded.

Will a red card for Patryk Letkiewicz have a "positive" effect on the team, stirring up further anger? "It certainly triggers additional emotions. As I said – with the support of the large crowd, who cheered every tackle, every clearance, every intervention by Kamil, giving us even more energy. I'm glad that even though we had to stand a little lower and wait for the opponent, we were also aggressive in our play. We often won the ball back in one-on-ones. We didn't allow ourselves to be pushed too low to create many chances, but the ball was often received higher. The opponent was basically forced to play long passes, which also made it easier for us to defend those chances," he replied.

One journalist suggested that Sunday's match was one of Wisła Kraków's best. What does the coach say about this? "I think that, apart from that first match, which was a very unfavorable result for us, since the match against Ruch, the team has been playing very well at times, sometimes even well. Of course, we make mistakes, but I think this team is playing well. We're not always effective, but we create chances in every match, a lot of them, and that's something very valuable. I think that's also the direction we're going to work on going forward, to play fast on offense, to create chances, and of course, to be effective," he said.

Kamil Broda was named in goal for Wisła after Letkiewicz's red card. The coach was also asked about his performance: "I said we have a wealth of talent here when it comes to the goalkeeping position. We also have Stępak, who is also a young goalkeeper, but he returned from injury and is also someone of good quality, so I'm glad we don't have a problem in that position at the moment, because we know "Leta" will be suspended for a card, but we have Kamil and Anton, and then there's Stępak, a young guy who also has great potential."

Media representatives also inquired about health issues. What about Marko Poletanović and Mariusz Kutwa? "Mariusz has returned to training, but it was clear he wasn't his usual self after his illness. Obviously, he's coming off a few days off, battling a fever and an infection—and he's still somewhat affected by the effects of that infection—so, in my opinion, he wasn't physically ready to play from the start. As for Marko, he'll have tests today, and we'll see if he can return to training with the team," he explained.

Finally, the only goal scorer, Wiktor Biedrzycki, was discussed, who handled the situation best and scored. "Certainly, scoring goals and playing from the ground is something that makes a defender grow. I think every player grows in such a situation. Wiktor scored, but he was also very dangerous from set pieces, as he had an assist against Ruch. He knows how to win these duels and isn't always able to get the ball on target, but he's tall and has a good jump. That's definitely his strength. I'm very happy that he's showing his high quality, and as I always say, it's only to the team's advantage. We have Mariusz Kutwa, Alan, and Skrobański. Injured players will be joining us soon, so I'm happy that we'll have room to maneuver here, because soon – after this international break – we'll have a lot of matches in a short space of time, and everyone in this team is needed," concluded coach Mariusz Jop.