Coaching duo: #WISRAP

Thursday was all about European competition, with Wisła Kraków's first match in the second qualifying round of the Europa League. In the match played in Krakow, Rapid proved superior, defeating Białystok 2-1. We invite you to hear comments from the coaches of both teams.

Robert Klauss - Rapid Vienna

"I'm very happy that we won. We were talking yesterday about a similar result that was exactly 100 years ago, when it was also 2-1 for Rapid, and I said I would gladly agree with such a result, and that's what happened, so I'm very happy. These were two different halves, but at the end of the first one, one of our players received a red card. At the beginning, we lost the ball too often, we didn't control the game. Later, we got control of the situation and it was getting better and better. There was even a chance to score a goal to make it 2-0 already at half-time, which unfortunately we didn't manage. Of course, when we received the red card, it became clear that Wisła would have more possession, and we would have to focus on defense. Despite this, we controlled the situation and started to have more possession again. We also scored the second goal after a nice shot. Later, however, there were too many dangerous chances near our penalty area, because we had lost some strength and were tired. We didn't fully monitor the play on the wings as we should, and on one of those occasions, Wisła scored. "It was a goal by a margin, but they deserved it, although we weren't happy about it, of course. This match showcased the strengths of both teams. Both our team and Wisła are strong, especially in attack, so Wisła had many chances," said the Rapid Vienna coach.

Kazimierz Moskal - Wisla Krakow

"First of all, congratulations to Rapid and thanks to my players for their fight. I think we were a bit nervous in the first half, which resulted in us losing the ball quickly. I think we showed too much respect for this opponent, although the quality Rapid possesses was evident on the pitch. For me, it was a very good start to the second half. It looked like it might last longer, but conceding the second goal was a bit of a cold shower for us, and Rapid could have shown what they're best at at that moment. Even with one man down and a two-goal lead, they kept possession for long periods and controlled the game. And we had trouble winning the ball and creating chances. Only as the minutes ticked by did we manage to turn things around. A consolation goal, but there were also opportunities that could have been finished better. I don't think we have anything to be ashamed of, but there are certainly some regrets," began the Wisła coach. "Looking at who we played, I think there's a bit of optimism, but even after good matches there's room for improvement, so I think there are a few things we could have done better after today's match. For example, our finishing, our ball retention, and our attacking defense. At times, we lacked that to have more control over the match," he added.

When asked about the reasoning behind substituting Giannis Kiakos at halftime, the coach replied: "Kiakos's substitution was indeed tactical. We were losing 0-1 at halftime. We had a slightly different plan for the first half, and in the second half we wanted to add a winger with the pace to play in behind the defense. As for injuries, there will certainly be some injuries or ailments after every match, especially after such an intense one, but I don't think they will be serious enough to rule any player out of Sunday's match."

Łukasz Zwoliński made his debut with the white star. What assessment will Kazimierz Moskal give his player? "I don't think there's any huge praise here, but he did the job he was supposed to do. He had a chance to score, but it didn't work out, but we also have to remember that Łukasz joined us not so long ago and also had individual training. He didn't train with the team. He also needs feeling, the pitch, and the partners he's currently playing with. I don't know how I would rate it, but it was correct," he said. "We expect Łukasz to be the player who runs in behind the defense and attacks the space behind. Of course, without being offside, but that could be due to a lack of experience with the team and a lack of training with the team. Defensively, yes, there's room for improvement. Especially now, when we're attacking in the opponent's half and we need to position ourselves better to intercept any loose balls and not be caught off guard by a counterattack," he continued.

According to journalists, the R22 players had a weaker start to the second half. Does the coach agree with this opinion? "I think we went into the first half a bit too timid, losing possession too quickly. However, I think the second half and its start were very good. Only after conceding the goal to make it 0-2 did Rapid take the initiative and control the situation, and it didn't seem to matter that they were playing one man down. That's a fact. Where does that come from? Because when you get into a good rhythm, you think you have everything under control and you score, it's a real blow to the team, and there was probably a moment of doubt. We also needed time to get back to our normal game," he analyzed.

The Krakow team proved to be a tough opponent for Rapid. Could the defeat in the first leg have a positive impact on Wisła ahead of their next matches, including Sunday's match against Polonia? "I'll say this – I think we tried. We knew they were a tough opponent, but we tried to play as bravely as we could. Besides, I think the starting eleven itself, with Zwoliński and Rodado playing together, proves that. Will it have a positive impact or not? I think the answer for us will be everything on Sunday. How will the team react, not so much after the defeat, because you can lose a match, but after this cup match, when the league matches come? And that's the most important thing for us right now. And I spoke to the players about this in the locker room right after the match – that we're not thinking about the rematch, we're thinking about Polonia Warsaw, who will be here on Sunday," he noted.

Olivier Sukiennicki once again put in a strong performance, and media representatives also asked about him. "Once again, Olivier showed he can be the driving force behind this team. I see him feeling more comfortable in the center, in the number 10 or number 8 position, but today we had a different plan and he started in a different role, but I think he's a versatile player, and it doesn't really matter to him," concluded coach Kazimierz Moskal.