Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski is focused on Poland for now but ‘very difficult games’ await Napoli after the international break. The Polish international will be a part of the starting XI that faces France tomorrow evening in the World Cup, having qualified from a group that included Mexico and Argentina. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 28-year-old discussed his national teams approach to matches and what awaits Napoli when Serie A resumes in January:
You were a little too defensive against Argentina…
“I don’t know why, maybe we suffered from challenging one of the favorites for the World Cup in a decisive race for qualification. Playing against Messi complicates things because he is a genius, he makes everything seem simple. We certainly will not be able to face France with this attitude: we will need more character, more courage, more desire to hurt the opponent who is very strong. But we must also enjoy this moment. “.
As you experienced the last minutes of the game with Argentina, were you also waiting for Mexico’s final result?
“From the bench they screamed not to score a goal and not take a yellow. Easy to say, but you play against Messi: Your head is spinning, you throw him down and the booking arrives. Fortunately it didn’t happen. And now we focus on France, we move from Messi to Mbappé. And not only to him, because behind Mbappé on the left is Theo Hernandez: we have to prepare for the game very well, perhaps changing form compared to the game with Argentina. France is world champion, but in a open game anything can happen, provided that each of us has a better performance: against Argentina we missed in many respects and we could have paid dearly for it “.
What will you give Szczesny?
“Something special. He deserves these satisfactions, he is saving us by making incredible saves. We are happy with his form, he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world “.
Tell the truth, you didn’t think about asking the Argentine players from Serie A to lower their pace?
“A little thought in my head also passed me, but it didn’t seem right. We suffered to the end and it went well.”
By now you must be getting used to the great challenges: Napoli are among the strongest teams in the Champions League and Poland is among the last sixteen in the World Cup.
“These are two different things, because in the national team we have not been able to play as well as we could so far. We step back too much, leave the initiative to the opponents and it is not a good thing. In Naples the opposite occurs, we keep the ball and we have many solutions to shoot at goal, many players of the highest quality. There is quality in Poland too, but so far we have not shown it. I hope it happens with France. ”
Speaking of Naples, do you too want to send, like Koulibaly, a message to the population of Ischia?
“Yes, absolutely. I hope everything will fall into place soon. I wish all of them to have the strength to react to what has happened. Ischia is a wonderful place. ”
After the World Cup, there will be a championship to conquer. It is the year of Napoli?
“Before the break we did excellent things and we hope to resume in the same way. Very difficult games await us, in the league and in the Champions League: we want to go well in all competitions, Napoli can do excellent things and write history “.
Over the years you have learned to play everywhere. How much tactical work, as well as physical, is behind all this?
“It’s true, I worked a lot on this aspect. I happen to play everywhere, sometimes in positions not mine as against Argentina: I’m not used to being so wide, I still tried to give my best, but it was hard. I didn’t arrive in attack in time, I couldn’t close behind and I got cramps. But now it doesn’t matter, let’s turn the page, we enjoy this result for Poland after a few less beautiful years “.
Poland is the most “Italian” team in the World Cup. Do you feel the responsibility to hold the Serie A flag high?
“Eh … I am very sorry that Italy has not qualified. It’s nice to have many players engaged every week in a beautiful, difficult and important championship like the Italian one and I hope other Poles will arrive. There are some interesting guys, such as Skoras who play against Argentina in the second half. Every year someone emerges, I follow the Polish championship a lot and Giuntoli certainly does the same “.
