Below are the coaches’ statements from the post-match conference:
Grzegorz Szoka, coach of Znicz Pruszków
It’s hard to comment on such a match. Warta really started well. In the first match with Termalica, the team was very well organized, defended well. Later, we lacked a bit of luck and the results went down, something broke down. We knew that there was a change of coach in the Warta team. I have the pleasure of knowing Piotrek, so I knew that he would definitely use as much time as he had to improve his defense. We were working on two scenarios with the staff: strong tempo, Warta would go very high to us and they would want to mark a new beginning, or they would just tighten up the defense and stand lower, wanting to launch dangerous counterattacks.
We focused on extending Warta’s pressing so that spaces opened up between the lines and that we found midfielders between the formations. We could say that in parts our plan worked in possession of the ball, but unfortunately we had a big problem getting past the opponent’s defense line and creating clear situations. At the beginning we didn’t want to open up either, so as not to drive the hosts. Unfortunately, we decided to go into high pressing when we conceded a goal. It wasn’t a good moment. Fortunately, we scored a goal from a free kick before the break.
In the second half our plan was to be patient and in this warm weather to keep the ball longer, looking for early crosses. I think 1-1 is fair. No one is completely happy, but you have to respect the point.
When we started this season, we were condemned to be devoured by all observers. Before the first round, I would probably have said that such a draw at Warta – relegated from the Ekstraklasa, is very valuable and we should be happy. Now it seems to me that in the form we have been in recently, I perceive it more as a loss of two points. Of course, not because we looked great on the pitch today, but simply because appetite grows with eating. We are ambitious people and we would definitely like to win such matches, to continue the winning streak. We have to be realistic and appreciate a point on the road, because in the first league it is not that easy.
Piotr Klepczarek, coach of Warta Poznań
The goal was three points. Unfortunately, we didn’t achieve that goal. From the course of the match, I think we should have won it. However, today’s match was very difficult and demanding. There weren’t many situations – in the first half, one hundred percent, which we didn’t use. In the second, however, maybe without clear situations, but two or three times we attacked dangerously in the opponent’s penalty area.
As for the team, I think there were a lot of good moments that we worked on during our first week together. Of course, there are many things that we need to continue working on to improve in the next matches. The players gave it their all today. The most positive thing is that you can see the good energy. Everyone wants to work and we as coaches will definitely try to work even better in the next matches to win matches and get three points.
In conclusion, I think that there was a lack of effectiveness and certainly a little more courage. We have a very experienced team, players who have a certain, high quality. Now we have to catch some automatisms, a little calmness in some situations, and this calmness will certainly bring us more points. In the current situation, we have to score points for three so that the situation calms down as soon as possible. Therefore, every situation in every match can be worth its weight in gold
Finally, as a team we would like to thank the players, the fans and everyone who had a hand in organising the match and everything that happened this week.
The coach was asked about the performance of individual players, including the assessment of Jędrzej Grobelny in the context of the conceded goal:
I have absolutely no complaints about any of the players. We will analyze the match calmly and try to avoid mistakes. Jędrzej is a very important part of our team. There are ten more players on the pitch who can resolve a given moment, a given situation or solve it better. Never is a goal conceded or a goal scored the merit of one player – many things influence it. As I said at the beginning, we will have something to work on and one of the elements is certainly set pieces.
In terms of changes – Szymon Pawłowski was prepared to come in. We were really counting on him coming in for the last few minutes and tipping the scales of victory, because he was doing very well in training this week. At the last moment, a player with the status of a youth player got injured, so a change with Szymon’s participation was already out of the question.
Shun (Shibata) however, he has joined us quite recently, so we are happy that he could make his debut. This is already one step forward in terms of introducing him to the team. He is a player who can play in offensive positions, as a number ten, as an eight, so we are glad that he joined our team, because we want Warta to be very energetic, to be intense, and such a player is able to give us that.
