Many matches at the highest league level.

"It was all in a different role back then, so I would separate that. I think, on the one hand, there's a certain excitement and anticipation for the first match because we've returned to Ekstraklasa after several years. That's certainly the initial feeling. But the second is also an inner calm and a sense that the team is ready for this competition," said coach Mariusz Jop.

Emotions at the start.

"Emotions are good because emotions help you show your full potential. I think the players are familiar with a full stadium; it's nothing new. Of course, it's an opponent we haven't played against for a long time, an opponent who is in Ekstraklasa. However, I don't think there's any need to especially cool heads here. I think we know what we're capable of, we know what we want, we know how we prepared. I see concentration in the team, but I also see calmness," he assured.

Wisła dominated the first league. How will they fare in PKO BP Ekstraklasa?

"I don't want to compare myself to other teams. I think Wisła has its own identity, its own way of playing. Of course, we know there might be matches where we'll be in phases of the game where we were less often in the first league. In Ekstraklasa, we'll be there more often, but that's also something we've been working on. I don't think this situation will surprise us," he said.

Did the friendly matches clarify the lineup for the upcoming game?

"Of course, there are question marks, because there's very good competition in the team and there are positions where players are very close to starting. Friendly matches are there to give us information, and we certainly got additional information. However, I won't specifically say how the starting eleven will differ, or if it will differ, from how we played the first match," said the Wisła coach.

GKS Katowice under observation.

"I was in Slovakia with our sporting director. Heading to Žilina, I already had the analysis prepared by the staff in my head, and some things were confirmed, others looked a little different. That is, there were different variants in some phases of play regarding GKS. Of course, you have to learn that, because playing on two or three fronts is different from playing only in league competitions. But that's not our problem. I don't think that the fact that the opponent had a match on Thursday and now plays on Sunday will be a problem for them," the coach described.

"We know that set pieces are a very important element, and GKS is certainly a team that is strong in this area. You can see that they are waiting for it, they have good height, they have a very good set-piece taker, and that is definitely their strength," he added.

Predicted GKS lineup?

"I take into account that there might be three, even four changes compared to what we saw in the match against Žilina. I think GKS is a team that likes to have possession of the ball. When it comes to building and constructing attacks, it's a similar structure to what we do. GKS defends differently from us, but it's certainly a dangerous team, a good one, if they have possession of the ball, because they know what to do with it. This structure is quite clear and they also have players who can find themselves in specific spaces. As I said, it's a team that feels better attacking than defending, in my opinion," he analyzed.

Rodado and Ertlthaler ready to play?

"Yes, they will be ready," he replied curtly.

New players and their performances.

"Today I wouldn't want to go into such detail about it, because that's also information for the opponent on what they can prepare for. I can only say that everyone who joined has been training diligently. We knew that they are at different stages of physical preparation, and some need a little more time, others need less time, so this is something that is natural. Besides, there's also the adaptation process to the team. These are things that progress to different degrees, depending on the player," he said.

Looking at Wieczysta's play, isn't there a concern that there will be a lack of experience in PKO BP Ekstraklasa?

"I don't compare myself to other teams, and we focus on ourselves," the coach replied briefly.

GKS Katowice as an example to follow?

"I think GKS showed after their promotion that they function well in Ekstraklasa. They achieve better results every year. Yes, I think it's a good example of a team that has adapted well to Ekstraklasa and is making continuous progress," he assessed.

What is Wisła capable of in PKO BP Ekstraklasa?

"Wisła is capable of being optimally prepared for every upcoming match, and I think that's how we'll talk about our goals. Of course, we want to get to know this league, we want to adapt to it, but our goal is Sunday's match, and that's how we'll approach this topic," he emphasized.

Message to the Fans for the start of the season.

"First and foremost, I'm glad that they are still with us in such large numbers, because it's not even days, but weeks since the tickets went on sale, and they were bought up very quickly. So I definitely want the fans to be with us at all times, support us, and be patient," he said.

Dreams?

"Dreams are for dreaming, meaning sometimes these dreams can go beyond reality. Maybe I won't articulate them aloud. However, I know for sure that Wisła Kraków is capable of springing surprises in many matches, of showing its good offensive side, of being close to what it presented in the first league. I strongly believe in this, because I see how the team works and what progress it is making," concluded coach Mariusz Jop.

The match Wisła Kraków – GKS Katowice in PKO BP Ekstraklasa will be played on July 26, 2026, at 8:15 PM. The match can be watched primarily at Synerise Arena Kraków, on Canal + Sport, in the application, and online. Fans who follow our team and do not live in Poland are encouraged to use the Ekstraklasa.tv platform.