Coach Mariusz Jop before #RCHWIS: I'm counting on us winning this match.
Over 50,000 fans in the stands, great emotions, and optimism before #RCHWIS. Coach Mariusz Jop does not hide that the team is eagerly awaiting this special match and is ready to fight for victory.
How long could Alan Uryga's break last?
"It depends on the ailment. I am very glad that the worst diagnosis, which seemed very likely, turned out to be good for Alan in the end. I wouldn't want to speculate here. Alan is undergoing rehabilitation. I hope he can rejoin team training as soon as possible. However, I can't say at this moment how long it will take." – said coach Mariusz Jop.
Will Darijo be ready to play?
"Yes, Dario has been training all week. He's preparing normally with the team and is being considered for the starting lineup." – he replied briefly.
Śląsk lost points in this round. Will the pressure be greater?
"No, that absolutely changes nothing. Of course, we know the results, we observe what is happening around us. However, we focus mainly on ourselves and on preparing for the match. Absolutely nothing changes in the context of what we have to do on the pitch." – he said.
Over 50,000 fans in the stands, is that an extra surge of emotions?
"It is a great honor to be able to participate in such a match, with such an audience. I still vividly remember that match from the previous season. It was something truly fantastic. It reminds me only of what you can experience as a Polish national team player. However, certainly something that works in favor of such matches is the organization of the cheering. Because these are people who can cooperate with each other. In the national team, it's a bit harder to organize coordinated cheering. The setting is definitely massive. In terms of the motivational aspect, yes. Here, the coach's role is a bit smaller when it comes to such motivation, because every player looks forward to such a match. For some, it is sometimes one match in their career to play in front of such an audience. I am very happy that I will have the opportunity to participate in such a match again.
A brief return to the analysis of the previous match.
"Several factors influenced the result, which I mentioned directly after the match. Firstly, certainly the pitch in some sense. Secondly, the situation with Alan. Thirdly, the fact that we did not utilize the spaces that we should have utilized from the very beginning. We know that Polonia plays with a very large number of players. When it comes to high pressing in a 3-4-3 formation, they leave three at the back in a 3-on-3 situation. Sometimes we changed too slowly, too many times we switched sides, allowing the opponent to push us back instead of looking for solutions forward. Of course, we discussed this in the post-match analysis. However, that is a closed topic now. Ruch will be a different match, playing in a different structure, defending in a different way. So there will be other opportunities that we will want to utilize." – replied the coach of Biała Gwiazda.
James Igbekeme and his form.
"I think not only James, but everyone in the wider squad worked very well this week with the awareness of what awaits us this coming Sunday. I wouldn't blame James for that goal. There were a lot of other improper behaviors there. James certainly could have acted better, differently. However, it's always a chain. I don't want to list everyone in order now, but there were too many lost duels, too many bad decisions, a bit of sloppiness at the beginning. The goalkeeper quickly kicked out from the five-meter line. No one could block him there, because I also heard somewhere that no one blocked the goalkeeper. When it's a kick from the five-meter line, you can't block the goalkeeper. Sometimes we throw everything possible into the pot, and when there's a mistake, we don't see certain things. Coming back to the question, James worked well and conscientiously, but the whole team looked very good this week and I am optimistic about tomorrow's match." – he assured.
The previous match at Silesian Stadium was a high-scoring victory for Wisła. Will it be similar on Sunday?
"I don't look at it as if we won a match against a given team six months ago, or a year ago. Coaches sometimes look for that extra motivation. I think we don't need any additional motivation. As for coach Fornalik's work, I think it's visible in the perspective of this season. Ruch has many good moments. Recently, they've been regularly scoring points, and it's definitely a team that is very dangerous on the counter-attack, has very fast wingers, dangerous from set pieces. I would say, pragmatic when it comes to high pressing. They often prefer to stay in a medium block and wait for the opponent's mistake. We'll see how this match plays out. We know that sometimes coaches change their assumptions and tactics for a match against Wisła." – stated the coach.
In the last match at "Śląski", you won mentally by scoring an early goal? Were there other factors?
"We changed our defensive approach a bit for that match. I think we surprised Ruch with that, because they were prepared for a different way of building their attacks from the goal. Certainly, in such matches, if you score 3 goals quickly – it was 3-0 in the twentieth minute – and we were very effective in those actions, then naturally the opponent's wings are clipped, and then, carried by the support, we are able to do more and don't feel tired. That's more or less how it works. That match went very well for us. However, Sunday is always a new beginning. What happened a year ago doesn't have much significance at this moment." – he said.
Wieczysta won at Śląski. Will that be a good match for you to see what the recipe is for Ruch Chorzów?
"We don't base ourselves on Wieczysta or any other team. Of course, we have an analysis of the opponent and, among others, that match with Wieczysta is also there. Some fragments were included in that analysis, but as I say, we don't look at what others are doing, we focus mainly on our own actions." – he replied.
In the absence of Angel Rodado, is the backup solution optimal for you?
"I'm satisfied with how Duarte performed in the number 9 position. He had a few opportunities. Proactive in defensive play. He cooperated well with Julius. I think it's the optimal temporary solution at the moment." – replied the Wisła coach.
In the absence of Angel Rodado, did Julius, who served as captain on the pitch, also become a leader in the locker room?
"I've said many times that we have several leaders in the team. Julius is certainly one of them and he quickly embraced that role when he joined us before this season. Besides being a personality in the locker room, he is someone who shows it on the pitch. I think that's very important. I'm glad Julius is with us, because he's a person you can always count on." – he said.
Wisła won its last away match in November. Isn't that streak too long?
"Of course, we always want to win. Being at Wisła Kraków, whether you play at home or away, you always think about winning. However, on the other hand, let's appreciate that we are gaining points. They will ultimately matter at the end of the season. However, of course, this doesn't change our attitude that we are going to Chorzów to play. I hope we win this match." – concluded coach Mariusz Jop.