Marcel Łubik for “Gazeta Krakowska”: This is what we’ve been waiting for! We’ll be 100 percent ready!
Damian Urbaniec
After the 1-3 defeat to Lech Poznań, Marcel Łubik summed up Saturday’s match, discussed the goals conceded and identified the moments that decided the final result. W In an interview with “Gazeta Krakowska,” the Wisła Kraków goalkeeper also made no secret of his emotions ahead of the upcoming Kraków derby.
Saturday’s match against Lech Poznań ended in a 1-3 defeat for the White Star. After a goalless first half and Jakub Krzyżanowski’s goal, Wisła managed to respond to Antoni Kozubal’s opener, but the home side quickly regained the lead and then extended it. After the match, Marcel Łubik spoke to “Gazeta Krakowska” and analyzed the key events on the pitch.
“Of course, there’s some disappointment after this match. On the one hand, we can be pleased that we played as equals against the Polish champions, but after a defeat, there’s disappointment. It shows that we put up a fight. I think the decisive moment was conceding the second goal. It was simply a bad moment, coming right after we scored to make it 1-1. It took away some of our belief that we could win the match. Of course, the other moment was the penalty... It was simply bad luck that Angel slipped. Those are the two moments in the match that ultimately decided everything,” said the Wisła Kraków goalkeeper.
The White Star goalkeeper was also asked to assess the situations that led to Lech’s goals. Łubik praised the home players’ abilities, while also pointing out aspects Wisła could have handled better.
“I’d have to watch it all carefully from the camera behind the goal, because you can see everything clearly from there. But, just quickly after the match? I think the first goal was a very good move by Lech. As a team, we could have done better with our positioning. The same goes for the second, although I have to admit that, knowing Walemark’s quality, I could have expected anything. He hit it with such power from a standing start. Just respect! Could I have done better there? To be honest, I don’t like the idea that every goal at the near post is the goalkeeper’s fault. Of course, I could perhaps have positioned myself slightly further to the left, which would have given me a better chance of saving it, but above all, he hit it very, very well,” Łubik admitted, before also addressing the home side’s third goal.
“The third goal came from a good run in behind Agnero, and his pace and individual quality simply showed as he sprinted and still managed to shoot past me. I also have to give credit to our opponent here. You could see their quality in those shots,” he added.
The conversation also touched on Wisła’s away performances so far. The Kraków side have been picking up significantly more points at Reymonta, while they are still waiting to end their poor run away from home. Łubik assured them, however, that the team approaches every match aiming to win. W
“If I knew the answer to that question, I think we would have shown it on the pitch. We go away from home and want to win too. But we’re on a run where we simply can’t win away from home. We need to keep believing that we’ll eventually manage it, and I think we’re definitely capable of winning away, and we’ll do it yet,” he stressed.
One of the topics discussed was also the disciplinary situation of Alan Uryga and Kacper Duda, who were at risk of suspension for yellow cards before the match against Lech. Both avoided cautions, which means they will be able to play in the upcoming derby. As Łubik stressed, however, this did not affect the team’s approach to the match in Poznań.
“Honestly? Neither I personally nor the team as a whole thought about it at all, because we came to Poznań without thinking about the derby. We came here to win, with the mindset that if someone had to put in a stronger defensive challenge against an opponent, they would do it. There was no mindset before the match that someone should avoid challenges to avoid a yellow card,” explained the White Star goalkeeper.
Now it’s time for the Kraków derby
One of the most eagerly anticipated matches of the season awaits Wisła. W Friday, November 6, the White Star will face Cracovia at Reymonta. Marcel Łubik stressed that the team intends to quickly learn from its defeat in Poznań and focus fully on the contest against its local rival.
“Of course. We have a good day to recover now and clear our heads. Once again - we lost to the Polish champions, and we still believed we could win, so I think we can be proud of ourselves. But now it’s the most important match of the season - the derby. We’ve been waiting for this! Wisła has been waiting a very long time, so we’ll be ready for it one hundred percent!” Łubik declared.
Wisła’s goalkeeper makes no secret of the fact that matches played in front of large crowds, with a special atmosphere, provide him with extra motivation.
“Of course I do! I think everyone likes, even loves, matches like these. The atmosphere was great here in Poznań too. The fans who traveled here with us were loud and cheered and supported us, so it’s simply great to play in stadiums like these in front of a large crowd. It’s just beautiful!” he admitted.
Now all of the White Star’s focus is on Friday’s Kraków derby. The match against Cracovia will give Mariusz Jop’s team a chance to return to winning ways and extend their excellent run of performances at home.
Source: “Gazeta Krakowska” - “Marcel Łubik. Now the most important match of the season. The derby, we’ve been waiting for this.”
Read the full interview with Marcel Łubik in “Gazeta Krakowska”
Marcel Łubik for “Gazeta Krakowska”: This is what we’ve been waiting for! We’ll be 100 percent ready!