Piotr Szymański: I want to help our young players develop individually, as they will be the strength of this team in the future...

It has now been two years since you became the head coach of Sęp Żelechów's senior team. Looking back, how would you summarize this period? Have you managed to achieve the goals you set when taking over the team in July 2024?

Piotr Szymański: During my first year, we focused primarily on improving our defensive play, defending set pieces, and developing the playing style of our wingers. At that time, we lacked consistency in attack, and in several matches we conceded far too many goals. In the second season our performances became much more stable. Our defensive organization improved significantly, but we often lacked the ability to "finish off" games despite creating plenty of good scoring opportunities. Injuries to several attacking players at the beginning of the spring round also had a major impact. The most painful losses were the serious injuries suffered by our promising young attacking players, Kuba and Maks, and later by our captain, Bartek.

Sęp finished the 2025/26 season in eighth place in the Siedlce District League. How do you assess this result? Does it reflect the team's true potential, or do you feel it could have been better?

Piotr Szymański: Of course we feel a sense of disappointment. As I mentioned earlier, injuries to our attacking players played a significant role. Much of the responsibility for scoring goals fell on Mikołaj, who finished as our top scorer. He simply lacked enough support from the other forwards.

Throughout the season the team produced some very good performances, but there were also matches in which valuable points slipped away. What was the biggest challenge during the campaign?

Piotr Szymański: I believe the key moment was our first match of the spring round against Naprzód Skórzec. We played well for most of the game but lost control in the closing stages and ended up losing. A positive result in that match could have given us momentum for the following weeks, leading to more points and ultimately a higher position in the table.

What are the main aspects you focus on when working with the team? Is building tactical discipline more important, or do you prefer giving players greater freedom on the pitch?

Piotr Szymański: We work on technical and tactical elements as well as physical preparation. Rather than giving players rigid instructions, I encourage them to make their own decisions on the pitch. That helps develop both their creativity and their football intelligence.

How do you assess the current squad? Are there any positions that need strengthening before the new season? Or are injuries and squad depth currently the biggest concerns?

Piotr Szymański: We'd like to strengthen the squad with a striker and a full-back. Those are our priority positions at the moment.

Pre-season preparations for the 2026/27 campaign begin in July. What will be your main priorities during this period?

Piotr Szymański: The summer preparation period is much shorter than the winter one. We'll mainly focus on small-sided games in different areas of the pitch, improving intensity, and implementing our match-week training cycles.

Can supporters expect any changes to the squad before the new season? Are talks underway with potential new signings or players who could return to Sęp?

Piotr Szymański: We'd like to bring several ambitious young players born in 2010 into the senior squad. We're also in talks with other players interested in joining the club. The atmosphere within the team is very good.

What goals have you set for the team ahead of the 2026/27 season? Will results be the main priority, or is player development just as important?

Piotr Szymański: Naturally, we'd like to finish higher in the table this season. Above all, however, I want to continue developing our young players individually because they will form the core of this team in the future.

Sęp has consistently relied on young players in recent years. How do you evaluate the cooperation with the club's youth teams? Do you already see players who could soon join the senior squad?

Piotr Szymański: We try to encourage boys born in 2010, 2011 and 2012 by inviting them to train with us and take part in friendly matches. We have a talented group of young players, but they still need to work even harder in training sessions and matches.

Finally, what message would you like to send to Sęp Żelechów supporters ahead of the new season?

Piotr Szymański: I'd like to thank our supporters for backing us throughout the entire season. They stood behind us both at home and away, where we could always count on a loyal group of fans. We hope to give them plenty of positive emotions in the coming season and look forward to their continued passionate support. Personally, I also hope we'll avoid serious injuries, because having a healthy squad gives the team greater stability and quality.

Interview by: Marcin Sągol