421 days – that's exactly how long Papszun waited to lead Raków once again. – I'm optimistic that we'll get three points in this match. This first match, especially with a newcomer, is an unknown. We know what to expect from Motor and we believe that this clash will end with our success – he said at a press conference before the match with Motor Lublin.
He added, however, that he still needs some time to properly integrate the team. It is no wonder, as Vladan Kovacevic and Janis Papanikolau have left the team, and five new players have arrived – We have lost two leaders in this transfer window. Now the other players face the challenge of rising to the occasion. There is a group of players who I count on to replace them with dignity – he said.
Papszun effectively returns to the coaching bench. In the first half he almost exploded
Raków started Sunday's match with two new players in the starting line-up: Patryk Makuch and Adriano Amorim. The 1-3-4-2-1 formation, in which Raków celebrated its greatest triumphs during Papszun's first term, was unchanged. The 49-year-old was in a great mood before the match – he walked around, smiled, talked to TV staff, but it was clear that he missed the whole atmosphere of the top league.
At the very beginning of the match, however, Dawid Szwarga was more active on the sideline. The first minutes already showed how Raków wanted to play – high pressing in the opponent's half, lightning-fast reaction after a loss, in other words, everything that Papszun accustomed us to during his first term. After only 10 minutes, however, the coach had his first comments on the defense, and during the water break he mainly talked to Milan Rodin.
A disaster could have happened shortly afterwards when Kacper Trelowski got lost in the penalty area and hit the Motor striker. However, he did not take advantage of a simple mistake and wasted a perfect opportunity. Papszun almost exploded on the bench, giving the goalkeeper a severe reprimand and ordering him to kick the ball out in such situations next time.
As the match went on, Szwarga increasingly reached the sidelines. They practically jumped off the bench alternately – one moment Papszun, the next his assistant. One could therefore get the impression that this was more of a coaching duo than a hierarchy – the head coach and his “subordinate”. It cannot be ruled out that the new “system” will be in force during the current season.
A great performance by Raków Częstochowa. It was hard to find fault with anything.
Rakow was perfectly prepared for this match. Not only physically, but above all tactically. Ante Crnac's goal in the 31st minute only proved this. It started with taking the ball in their own half, then a short exchange of passes, getting out from under the opponent's pressing and using a gap in the middle of the field. Koczergin did a very good job, gaining several dozen meters with the ball and passing it to Tudor. He did not hesitate and sent it along the penalty area, where Crnac brilliantly beat the defender and put the ball in the net.
Not much has changed in defending set pieces either. Papszun still prefers the “zone”, and the players are tasked with focusing mainly on the ball. When it comes to offensive SFG, the team has a lot to improve, because they did not create a big threat from them. Such a threat was undoubtedly the new acquisition Adriano Amorim in front of the rivals' goal. He impressed with his speed, technique, and above all aggression and desire to score a goal. He did not manage to score one in the end, but it was a very good performance by the Brazilian.
Another element worth noting was the safety. Almost everything was right in this match. The players played responsibly, not neglecting tactical assumptions. As soon as one of the defenders joined the offensive action, another player quickly appeared in his place, providing stability in the defense.
Raków's players confirmed their victory in the 87th minute, when after a terrible mistake by Motor's defense, they successfully solved a positional attack, and Dawid Drachal increased the score. The match ended 2:0, so there is no doubt that it was a successful return to the coaching bench for Marek Papszun.