Mariusz Jop before #PGSWIS: We Believe in Our Game Model

The national team players have returned to training with the squad. How is their form, and are they being considered for tomorrow’s match?
“First of all, they came back healthy and in good spirits. National team camps are a certain kind of disruption when you look at the preparation plan. There’s traveling, some players play a match and have a recovery session, some don’t play and have a compensatory training. These two weeks were different from what the rest of the team experienced, but of course they are being considered to start.” – said Mariusz Jop.

A stumble against Polonia before the international break.
“Of course, we don’t like losing matches at home, in front of our fans, with this support. It’s definitely very painful, uncomfortable, and disappointing result-wise. It’s also an extra impulse to make up for the points we dropped at home in the next match.” – said the coach.

Can we expect changes in the lineup for the match against Pogoń Siedlce? “Obviously, I won’t reveal the starting eleven for tomorrow. I’m an advocate of stability. Besides, the players who have been starting usually haven’t disappointed. On the other hand, there is good competition within the squad. The last two weeks showed that the form of players who played less is improving. I must say I have a considerable dilemma regarding the starting lineup.” – emphasized the White Star coach.

A look at the opponent.
“Pogoń is a team that functions in a fairly specific way. They often defend deep in a flat 4-4-2, which also evolves because the winger drops to form a back five when defending. They are the weakest team in the league when it comes to ball possession. What emerges is a picture of a team waiting for quick attacks, waiting for set pieces. Out of their 21 goals, they scored 12 from set pieces. Quite a lot from penalties – I think as many as seven – but that shows they look for 1v1 situations, they look for dribbling inside the opponent’s box. These stats reflect exactly what we presented to our team and what the analysis confirmed. A team dangerous on the counterattack, dangerous from set pieces, waiting for those set pieces. Practically every free kick, every throw-in means regrouping and trying to take advantage of that moment. A team that can suffer defensively and doesn’t concede many goals – they’ve conceded only 17 so far. They will certainly be an uncomfortable and difficult opponent. We expect a tight game, and we expect to play more positional attack than usual.” – explained coach Jop.

Does the result of Friday’s match between Pogoń Grodzisk Mazowiecki and Śląsk Wrocław (2:2) motivate the team?
“I try not to look at it that way when considering what we’ve done so far and the results of other teams. For us, the most important thing is focusing on the next match, and regardless of circumstances or other results, we simply want to win and focus on our actions – of course taking into account the specifics of the opponent. That’s how it will be now. We don’t want to refer to what other teams do or what we’ve done earlier.” – he said.

Will the weather and snowfall affect preparations for upcoming matches?
“We assume the pitches won’t be our ally. The style of play we prefer – it will be harder to execute on such surfaces. We do have a few simpler solutions. But that doesn’t mean we’ll suddenly and radically change our way of playing, because we don’t want to do that. We believe in our game model, in our philosophy. Of course, we take into account the possible conditions. Heavy snowfall is forecasted for tomorrow as well. It could be a difficult match in this regard, when it comes to the quality of the pitch.” – he stated.

If the team is a metaphorical car and you are the driver, what is the condition of the vehicle right now?
“Using that analogy, I’d say it’s a car that’s regularly serviced and in good technical condition. Fuel is topped up regularly. The tires have been changed, so I think we can feel confident.” – joked the coach.

Mariusz Kutwa played two full matches during the national team break. Do these games help players fight for a starting spot?
“For sure, if you return from the national team with good results and receive praise, it’s something positive that makes the player feel better. That’s obvious. But in Mariusz’s case, since he played two matches, he had a recovery session on Thursday. So in fact, only yesterday he took full part in the training session we held. As I said earlier – Mariusz, just like the rest of the players who were on national duty, is being considered for the starting eleven.” – said Jop.

There have been several coaching changes in the Betclic 1 Liga. Will these changes affect Wisła and its competitors?
“I think in every team stability is important, and if changes are not necessary, it’s better not to make them. However, I wouldn’t want to comment too much on other teams. I prefer to focus on what is happening at Wisła Kraków and what I can influence. These are matters beyond me and matters that belong to the owners of those clubs you mentioned.” – stated the Wisła coach.

What kind of Wisła would you like to see on the pitch tomorrow?
“I can shorten it to just one word – victorious.” – answered coach Jop confidently.

Wisła have been very consistent this season. The stats show identical numbers of wins, draws, losses, and even goals scored and conceded at home and away. Does it matter to you where you play? Or is this simply regularity and it doesn’t matter?
“It matters, because of course we want to play here and we really enjoy playing in front of our home fans, in a full stadium. It’s something extra, something that gives the players additional motivation. But when it comes to away matches, I think the work we’ve done as a staff – and the players individually – in terms of preparing internal motivation, preparing for the match, understanding what their body needs… that’s something the players have done well. When it comes to attitude, the desire to execute our game plan, it’s true that we play similarly away and at home. I think the results from the start of the season made the team believe in it strongly and they want to keep doing it regardless of where we play.” – he said.

Rafał Mikulec has returned to training. Can we expect that other long-term injured players will go to the winter training camp?
“Starting with Miki – he is already doing parts of the training that don’t involve opponents, like passing drills or introductory parts with the coach. That’s what he’s allowed to do. He’s being gradually reintegrated into football training. The rest still train individually, also with the ball, but outside the team. As for January and the training camp, the initial plan is for Alan and Miki to travel with us and begin preparations more or less normally. Probably we’ll skip some parts of training in favor of work with coach Karol or coach Kazik. But those two are closest to returning fully to training and competing for a place in the squad.” – concluded coach Mariusz Jop.