Michniewicz already knows how his team will play. “That’s what we did in Legia”

For 36 days, Cezary Kulesza chose a new team selector. Michniewicz convinced him with the idea for the first play-off match, preparation for the talks and knowledge of the Russian national team. The new coach impressed her a few weeks ago, when he was interviewed by Russian television and told in detail about individual players. At the first press conference, he also mentioned names and briefly described some of them. However, he talked the most about his team and plans for the coming weeks.

– Contrary to some opinions, I also like to play in an offensive way. However, I like to win the most – this is how he referred to one of the most persistent patches attached to him. Later, he stressed several times that the way the team plays determines the quality of the players. And he had not managed such a strong team yet.

First, Robert Lewandowski, and at the end of February, an important visit to Russia

– I have already spoken on the phone and I am supposed to fly to him this week. I don’t have to watch him in the game, but I want to talk to him about the way the squad is supposed to play, so that he feels at his best. I make the decision, but I want to listen to the voice of the most experienced representatives. I will ask Robert how he would like to play, attack and win. I will also present my point of view based on the analyzes and everything I know about the Russian national team. Later, I will probably meet Kamil Glik and Piotr Zieliński. We will also see what the network of air connections will be – said Michniewicz.

On February 26, Michniewicz and Cezary Kulesza will fly to Russia to watch the match between Chimka and Dynamo Moscow and, by the way, talk to Sebastian Szymañski, who played in Michniewicz’s youth club, but was skipped by him. The next day, the Lokomotiv-Krasnodar match will take place in Moscow, so the selector will watch several Russian representatives in action and meet Grzegorz Krychowiak and Maciej Rybus. “The plan is to talk to your players in one go and find the weak points of the Russians,” said Michniewicz.

Another idea? Accelerating the grouping, which was scheduled to start on March 21, by one day. The success of this plan depends on how the league matches in which the Poles are to play will be arranged. If successful, there will be more time to get to know each other. – On Monday noon we could make a briefing, and in the afternoon trainings for those who had Sunday off. We also want to have the last training before the game with Russia at home and then fly out. We would only visit their stadium but practice at home. I make sure that such official trainings do not last longer than an hour, and besides, we will not do much on the opponent’s pitch – noticed Michniewicz.

This is how the team of Czesław Michniewicz is supposed to play

– The setting will be flexible. The circumstances will decide. There is a coronavirus, so you need a wide team and many players under surveillance. Also from the top league, because if an accident should happen, it will be easier to call someone from the Polish league. Clubs are sympathetic to representation. The coach of Sousa had his own vision, he preferred players from abroad, while I would like to open the team to footballers playing in Poland. I perfectly know the potential of Mateusz Wieteska or Bartosz Slisz, who was already rubbing against the team. I don’t take a chance from anyone from Legia. However, the core of this team will not change – assures the new coach.

– We want to modify our settings depending on the result. This is what we did in the most difficult matches. Circumstances changed, for example with Slavia Praga we got a red card, so we adjusted quickly. However, as for the game system, I assume that we will play both two and three stopwatches. We can also come out with three strikers and easily go to the line-up with two strikers or only one. 1-3-4-3 may be our foundation, but I repeat: it will change. Anyway, these are just numbers. For each coach, such a system will be slightly different, because the roles of individual players will differ – explains Michniewicz.

– I am not dissociating myself from Paulo Sousa. I was at the game against England and I wish we would always play like that. It was a very good game for our team. I want to squeeze out of the players what worked in coach Sousa and remind them of this behavior during the briefings. I will skip the ones that I didn’t like. I want to show the players how we are going to play, build actions and defend ourselves. Each player who comes to the training camp will know what exactly I expect from him. What kind of game in his position do I require. He will also know Russia and its specificity. For now, this is the most important task for me and my staff. 52 days is enough. That is much time. You prepare for a league match for 2-3 days. Flexibility and intelligence always count. And the Polish representatives are intelligent and they play in great clubs, where my coaches are often better than me. I will be based on what they can already do, but I also know how to help them a bit – Michniewicz smiled.

First Russia-Poland play-off game on March 24. If the Poles win it, they will play in Chorzów for a trip to the World Cup with the winner of the Sweden – Czech Republic match.