Krystian, to begin with I would like to ask you how you evaluate the autumn round performed by our white and blue team.

As captain of FKS Stala Mielec I would like to start by saying that we came out fully motivated for each of the games in the autumn round, and our goal was always to get three points, no matter who we faced on the pitch. There were many very good performances behind us, such as against Motor Lubin, Puszcza Niepołomice or Radomiak Radom, in which we were victorious. There were also meetings in which, unfortunately, we did not win 3 points or lost a goal in an unfortunate way, which made the meetings not end in a draw. Of course, both I and every player in our team feel a certain lack of satisfaction, but we are optimistic about the optimistic about the future.

Before we get into what the future holds, let me ask you a little more about the past. In April 2024, you played your league match number 400 in the blue and white colours of Stal Mielec. How do you recall that moment?

The moment when President Jacek Klimek, together with Director Damian Gąsiewski, handed me a commemorative jersey and a trophy on the pitch, and all our fantastic fans were standing up chanting my name and rewarding me with applause, I will remember forever. FKS Stal Mielec is my home, this is where I grew up and where I spread my football wings. During those 400 matches there were tears of joy as well as sorrow, matches after which you had to get up from your knees and keep moving forward, and such matches after which you felt as if you actually had wings and, despite fatigue, celebrated victory with the white-and-blue fans. I always say that putting on the jersey with the crest of Stal Mielec is a great honour, but also a responsibility – for the team, for the fans and for the whole club and its history which we create.

Did you manage to get some rest during the Christmas-New Year break?

It was a period when I was able to spend more time with my family. I was able to rest, but it was also necessary to stick to the recommendations related to diet and the training schedule. I was also very happy to be able to play in the annual Christmas Eve match with our fans.

So what is there to wish you in the new 2025?

First and foremost, good health. May I avoid injuries as much as I have so far, then I know there are still many fantastic moments ahead of me with our team. So far, fortunately, it hasn’t been very often that I’ve suffered an injury and I hope that this will also be the case in 2025.

The team will soon go to a preparation camp in Spain, at the same training centre as last year. How do you assess this decision?

Last year’s training camp in L’Albir showed that the Spanish direction is much better than training in Turkey. In Spain we have much more weather stability which will ensure that we can carry out the training units as the coaching staff intended. We have fantastic training conditions there – the pitches are properly prepared before each of our training sessions. The fact that more teams chose the Spanish training camp than in previous years only confirms this.

What do you think this year will be like for FKS Stal Mielec?

We have the spring round ahead of us, in which we will have to give not 100 but 120 per cent commitment and determination in every game. We all know that these will not be easy matches, but we cannot let ourselves, our families and above all our fans down. We simply have to show that we are made of steel. We need to secure a secure retention for the 2025/2026 PKO BP Ekstraklasa season as soon as possible and then do everything to finish higher in the final table than last season. Therefore, I would like to thank our fans for their support so far and, on behalf of the whole team, encourage them to cheer us on in the spring round. I am sure that together we will achieve many victories in 2025!

Interviewed by:

Mateusz Prokopiak