At the press briefing ahead of the Polish Cup Round of 64 clash between Pogoń Grodzisk Mazowiecki and Lechia Gdańsk, coach John Carver met with journalists.
On the boost from the win in Szczecin:
That victory definitely gives us a lot of confidence. We’ve now won three of our last four matches, so the confidence level is quite high. Mentally we are in a good place. Now comes the Cup, and of course we want to win this match. Today we’ll receive the full medical report on the players and we’re analyzing different scenarios.
On whether the staff had enough time to prepare:
It’s not much time, but we’ve looked at the opponent carefully and analyzed them thoroughly. We know their quality and what they have to offer. I’m convinced that coach Stokowiec, who has had success in the past, will have a very motivated team. They’ve started the league well, they’re in 6th place, and they have some very good players. Our preparation — both in analysis and on the pitch — doesn’t change. We prepare for this like we would for an Ekstraklasa match. Let’s not forget we’re facing a team that is in form.
On potential changes to the lineup:
We still need to look at the medical report, as our physios are working on it. Some players have muscle soreness after the match against Pogoń, so we’ll make a decision today. I hope I won’t need to make too many changes, but we also have to consider that we have a match on Saturday. There are also players who need minutes, but I’m confident they won’t lower the quality on the pitch. You know how important the squad is to me — everyone in this team has my trust. It’s also a good opportunity for players who haven’t been playing regularly to show themselves.”
Czy Szymon Weirauch pojawi się miedzy słupkami:
Wczoraj Szymon miał problem z kolanem, ale wiecie, że nie lubię mówić takich informacji.
On how to avoid a repeat of last season’s Cup elimination against Pogoń Grodzisk Mazowiecki:
First of all, we need to make sure we manage the game well and focus on how we play. Today we’ll replay that match and show the plan to the players. We want to be prepared for every possible scenario, even for penalties. Last season we went out on penalties, and this time we want to be ready for that. Today’s training is a complete plan for this match. For every big club, it’s very important to start the Cup well. I know it’s only the first round, but this competition is a gateway to European cups. At every stage — whether in the Ekstraklasa or the Polish Cup — you want to compete and go as far as possible.
