Jakub Bednaruk (former coach of PlusLiga clubs, expert of Polsat Sport) : They definitely have more reasons to worry than Bogdanka in the Challenge Cup match. We have to remember that there are people who can play in the Turkish team. On Friday, the Rzeszów team played a weak match against Trefl Gdańsk in the PlusLiga, but they won 3:2. It is good to be able to win matches, even if something is not going well for the team. A very important issue will be how serious Bartosz Bednorz's injury will be and whether Lukaš Vašin will recover. I see a certain threat here, because if we have to play with Adrian Staszewski and Klemen Čebulj, the opponent's chances increase. Resovia is definitely a better team and if all the players are healthy, I am convinced that they will win.
How do you assess the performance of the Fabian Drzyzga — Earvin Ngapeth duo in the Fenerbahce team?
Fabian is playing as well as he can. He has weaker wings in Istanbul than he would have in Rzeszow. In my opinion, he himself is performing well, because he is simply a class player. And Ngapeth, like him. When it comes to playing for big things, he will remember the great possibilities he has. Everyone knows that he is a player who does not maintain consistent form throughout the entire season, but when it came to competing in the Olympic Games, he was one of the best volleyball players of the tournament. He does not always control his physical condition. You can call him a volleyball genius, but one who fires up every now and then. That is simply his style. I do not have any great fears at the thought of him on the other side of the net, but you have to remember that if he wants to, he is one of the best players in the world.
First match Fenerbahce - Resovia (1:3) (Photo: poland only / newspix.pl) Has point guard Gregor Ropret, who replaced Drzyzga in Resovia, recently started to live up to expectations?
The discussion about Ropret has been exaggerated from the very beginning. I emphasized before the season that the Slovenian is not an outstanding player, so we cannot expect great things from him. I would describe him as a solid player. He decided to move to Rzeszow, but anyone in his place would do the same, it is normal. In recent years, he has not played in club volleyball for big things as a basic setter. If he was in big clubs, he only played as a substitute. The most important thing is that he simply remains accurate and does not "boil" unnecessarily. It seems to me that he has become accustomed to the situation and the specifics of playing in Rzeszow. And it is very simple - at Podpromie you have to win everything, because the club wants to fight for big things. For Ropret himself, it is something new, so it was difficult for him.
Bogdanka LUK Lublin is fighting with Sporting Lisbon for a place in the Challenge Cup final. How big is the gap between the two teams?
In my opinion, Sporting would have a hard time staying in the PlusLiga, so that's a huge difference. Bogdanka has nothing to worry about. In the first match, they clearly outperformed their opponent and it should be the same in the return match. I don't see any other possibility than a certain victory for the Lublin team.
The Challenge Cup final will most likely feature a clash between Bogdanka and the Italian Cucine Lube. Are you looking forward to this clash as much as the fans?
Definitely yes, I am delighted with such a vision. Just like the one that Resovia could meet Trentino in the CEV Cup final, and three of our teams and Perugia could find themselves in the Champions League Final Four. These would be fantastic matches with Italian teams. This year's European cups are what they are because the best teams on the continent are not currently playing in them. But since the very beginning of the competition, everyone has been waiting for Polish-Italian matches and they will come soon. I am waiting for great and fierce confrontations.
Jakub Bednaruk (Photo: Michał Trzpis / 400mm) Last question about the Champions League – would you like the Final Four to be held in Poland? Considering the very high requirements of the CEV, is it worth it for us to try to organize this event?
I don't wonder if we need it. We have a huge chance of having three Polish teams in the Final Four, so why shouldn't we play at home? Organizing such an event is an expensive undertaking. However, if no one accepts the CEV's offer, it may soon become lower. I'm not talking about a situation when it will be very close to the date and the host is still unknown. The current CEV offer is unacceptable to Perugia and the Polish clubs. If it becomes rational, then of course it is worth considering.
