Suddenly a microphone suddenly passed after the match. That’s how the hearts of Wisła supporters won

– Good morning, welcome home – with these words the announcer at the Wisła Krakw stadium welcomed Jerzy Brzczek a few minutes after 5 p.m., when he came out on the pitch to give a pre-match interview to C + Sport television. The coach was greeted by applause from the fans who were already sitting in the stands, although there were not too many of them yet. However, when the line-up was presented and the announcer was reading out more names, the name was shouted out almost the loudest. Almost, because only greeted louder, who returns to Krakow after a few years.

However, after a while the fans of Wisła Kraków warmly welcomed the club’s legend – Radosław Sobolewski, who joined Jerzy Brzęczek’s staff. Just before the first whistle was from the stands – “Radek Sobolewski, I”.

However, Brzeczek did the biggest show after the game, when he suddenly took the microphone under the stand of the most ardent fans of Wisła Kraków. The coach thanked them for their cheering and suddenly started shouting “drive, drive, drive” and the stands replied “White Star”.

Brzęczek was coming out of his way

Although a week is not enough for the coach to leave his mark on the team, Jerzy Brzczek could recall the pattern of working with the Polish national team, where he had only a few days to prepare the team for matches. He was similar here, because although he did not run the club, he had been watching Wisła’s matches for a long time. He was also probably up to date with the situation inside the team, because it is hard to believe that he did not talk about it with the Błaszczykowski brothers.

And it was obvious that he had an overview of the Wisła team, because even Krakow journalists in the press stand were very surprised by the list of Wisła Krakow’s squad. The most surprising thing is that there is no Michal Skvarka in the line-up, with whom Gula started to determine the line-up. Another surprise was that the wing came on loan from Bundesliga Stuttgart

While in the first half Brzęczek calmly watched what was happening on the pitch, his patience ran out in the second half. The former coach went out of his way when the players were reluctant to play the ball to the wingers or Stefan Savić had problems pampering the last pass. And there were well over five such situations.

One change was visible, but the momentum was not there. Savić irritated everyone

One gets the impression that what Brzęczek introduced was definitely a different energy, different dynamics. Because during the first 10 minutes of the game, Wisła created 2-3 excellent situations that should be turned into a goal. And let us remind you that in the last two matches this team created, in fact, only one good goal situation for 180 minutes. The fans could be irritated by Stefan Savić, who, although he was creating great opportunities for his friends, could be offensive with ineffectiveness. Especially in one situation, which he should have turned into a goal himself.

In the second half, however, Wisła had much more problems. Górnik was able to break through the center of the pitch more often, where Fazlagić and Kuveljić were completely unsuccessful. It was also a big problem for Adrian Gula’s team and so far Brzęczek did not find a recipe for it. Although 20 minutes before the end, the coach himself noticed it and changed Kuveljic to Skavarka. This, however, opened the Vistula even more inside. In both halves it was evident that the farther into the forest, the more old habits. The Vistula also lacks, above all, quality. Quality in the middle of the field and in finishing the situation it creates for itself. He simply won’t stay in the league without it.

Brzęczek’s return at the perfect moment?

In recent years, Artur Skowronek, Peter Hyballa and Adrian Gula have been asked at least once if the former coach Jerzy Brzęczek is breathing on their backs. The Vistula River avoided this choice like fire, but in the end there was no way out, and the employment of Brzęczek met with enthusiasm. When Wisła hired Adrian Gula in the summer of 2021, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. It was glad that the White Star did not follow the line of the least resistance and did not hire Radosław Sobolewski or just Brzęczek. It seemed that Gula would be an absolute hit. He seemed to be a coach beyond the capabilities of the Polish club and … an unexpected meatball came out of it. Gula scored badly. He had not recorded such a weak point average at any other club before. The club was not making any progress and the team even stopped giving goals. The last two games were … one shot on target. If there was a Polish coach in the position, he would probably have flew out in the fall. In Krakow, they wanted to give Gula a chance. Everyone knew that he was a very good coach, this project was believed in … But when after two spring defeats, the specter of a decline was seen in the eyes, there was no mercy.

The situation went so far that a large part of the fans began to count … on the dismissal of Gula’s coach. Wisła did not hesitate for a long time and announced last Sunday that the Slovak would not continue to run the club. Then it became clear that the time had come for Brzęczek. And when it was announced that Radosław Sobolewski would be his assistant to the former coach, it was difficult to find any voices of opposition.

In Krakow, you can hear that Sobolewski’s departure to Wisła Płock was the beginning of the end of Maciej Stolarczyk in 2019. Just like the beginning of the end of Artur Skowronek in Wisła, a year later was the departure of Dawid Szulczek to Wigry Suwałki. Anyway, his Warta Poznań is currently leaving the struggle for maintenance. A fight in which the Vistula has become a part of the competition.

A perverse ball, Brzęczek’s return received with enthusiasm

The story of Jerzy Brzęczek shows how perverse football is. Six months ago, his employment in Wisła would be negatively received. There would be a lot of voices about family relations with the Błaszczykowski brothers who co-rule the Vistula. In February, his employment is perceived as a bull’s-eye. And one of the few chances to save Wisła Kraków from relegating from the league. The buzzer returning to the top league is another interesting point for the top league. The fight will go on to the very end, because there will be 12 more queues to the end. But who knows if Friday’s game against Legia vs Wisła will be about something more than just three points. A winner can get a strong positive boost. And the loser will be one step closer to the 1st league.