advanced to the quarter-finals after a great game in the group stage of the competition. This is an almost historic result, because the club left the group for the first time in the most important European tournaments. The two-legged match in the next phase of the tournament was to be a reward and a chance for a historic achievement – entering the top four teams of the Champions League. However, this task will be very difficult.
Developres has found one of the best teams in the world. It is the bane of Polish clubs in the Champions League
Some, seeing the results of the League of Champions draw, would even say that it is impossible. The Rzeszów players found one of the best teams in the world – Turkish. It is the bane of Polish teams in Europe. Last season, Giovanni Guidetti’s team first defeated £ KS Commercecon Łódź twice in the group, and then threw Grupa Azoty Chemika Police from the quarter-finals.
What will happen in the competition with Developres? – We’ll see how it will be on the pitch. May the best for us. But we see it primarily as an opportunity to play with the best. I am glad that it will be Vakifbank, because for me it is the best team in the world with the best coach and top players in every position -.
We are talking about the quarterfinals of the Champions League of Developers with the team’s coach, who has a little less enthusiasm than Serbka, but guarantees that the team will not give up at the entrance to the hall.
Jakub Balcerski: How did you feel when Developres was drawn, practically the strongest possible rival, whom you could have come across in the quarterfinals of the Champions League? It was a regret, because there could have been an easier opponent, or more recognition, because a big company like Vakifbank would come to Rzeszów?
Stephane Antiga: It will be a difficult match, but a big event. Sure: it is a pity that we will play against the strongest, because maybe against another team the chances would be better. At the same time, however, we will gain a lot of experience and get a chance to oppose one of the best teams in the world. We will approach this meeting as we would any other meeting: with the will to win. But we are facing a club that recently won the club world championship and we need to be aware of their strength. It will be an interesting show for our fans. Another difficult match for us, in which we will give our best and try to win.
Where do you see your team’s best chances?
We are not a favorite and we will have a much smaller chance of reaching the semi-finals. It’s clear, but we have to play the best we can. Before the first match against Lokomotiv Kaliningrad in the group stage, everyone also condemned us to defeat and said we had no chance. And we won. Vakifbank is still a class higher than Lokomotiv, but we know what to do. We have two weeks of hard work ahead of us to achieve the best possible disposition. Then we have to get on with this match. Only this and so much.
Are you already satisfied with what Developres has done this season in the Champions League, would the promotion even arouse the appetite and a defeat with the Turkish team, even taking into account their class, would be painful?
Sure I’m happy and proud of the team. However, we are working on becoming a better and better team. My approach to it is this: if we lose, we should show our character on the pitch and fight. If I am happy with it, I will not feel sorrow or regret. It would be a defeat with a better team, but for now we want to become a big obstacle for Vakifbank on the way to the semi-finals.
This season is going well for you – Developres is the only Polish team that fights in Europe, Tauron Liga, in which it is the leader of the table and the Polish Cup. This is undoubtedly a success, but would you change anything in the previous several weeks of work?
Maybe not everything was perfect, but the season is going really well. We won the Super Cup, in all competitions we play at the level that we wanted to achieve before the season. Now we want to refine the details and raise the level and quality of our team. This should bring a lot in the context of subsequent matches, for the highest stake and trophies.
It is a good period for you as a coach, but a few weeks ago the decision to choose a coach of the Polish volleyball team did not go your way. The coach of the Polish Volleyball Federation appointed Stefan Lavarini, your candidacy, although it was among the final four, it was rejected. Did you know about this long before the announcement of your choice?
You have to ask about the procedure of selecting a coach for Poland. It’s a thing of the past for me.
And do you perceive it as a failure?
I left this case, I don’t think about it anymore.
Do you still want to work with a representation apart from leading Developres?
Why not? For now, however, I am focusing only on what we have in front of us in Rzeszów.
So let’s get back to your great challenge. If you had to choose: the Polish championship with Developres, or defending Vakifbank and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, what would you point to?
Good question. A win with the Turkish women would be quite a feat, it would become a holiday because nobody is betting on us. But this is only a promotion to the semi-finals, he will not be placed on a shelf like a trophy or hung around his neck like a medal. I would have appreciated going this far in the Champions League after having passed such a rival, but that would have remained as a memory. And the Polish championship would be the first such important trophy with this team. That’s why I would bet on gold in the league.
In Poland, the participation of clubs in the Champions League for several seasons has been a similar scenario: one of them will advance to the knockout stage and be played by a giant from Italy, Russia or Turkey. Don’t you dream of reaching their level? Is it real in the perspective of several years for the teams from Rzeszów, Police and other teams that will form the top of the Tauron Liga?
Developres and Chemik have made steps forward in recent seasons. The difference is still big, but the fact that you don’t lose touch with the best in the world makes it always possible to catch up with them. Sure, I’d like to do a miracle and win. I would like to be in this group, to fight the teams from Conegliano or Istanbul, as an equal. For now, it seems unreal, but surprises like to appear at moments like this: when something seems impossible.
Polish volleyball players are developing. It shows: thanks to them the national team and clubs will be stronger and stronger. The only question is, when will they be able to play against the league mediocre and not having much contact with the world’s leaders, and somehow slowly join them. Therefore, meetings such as our two-legged match with Vakifbank are and will be very important. We’re going to leave a good impression and then learn from this competition. It doesn’t matter if we lose as many assume, or if we make a sensation and win. It won’t change.
Source: Sport
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
