Kiwior: "FC Porto gave me what I was missing at Arsenal" | OneFootball

This Friday, Poland faces the Netherlands and Jakub Kiwior could have a special day: if he steps onto the pitch, he will reach his 40th international cap. At 25 years old, the FC Porto defender spoke to the ‘Laczy nas Pilka’ website about this stage of his career and stated that, in Portugal, he found what he lacked at Arsenal: regular playing time.

Kiwior explained that the move was planned to relaunch his career. “In terms of the league, it might seem like a step back, but in terms of the club, it wasn’t. At FC Porto, I have what I was missing in London, that is, playing regularly. I feel very good here. They were the right decisions,” he said, emphasizing the club’s stature: “In the case of FC Porto, there wasn’t much to analyze—anyone interested in football knows how big this club is.”

Regarding the loan request, the Pole recounted how his last conversation with Mikel Arteta went: “The last conversation with Arteta wasn’t difficult. At that point, we already knew I would be going to FC Porto on loan. The coach highlighted the importance of the club and wished me good luck,” he recalled, adding that a previous conversation was more demanding: “The previous conversation was harder, when I asked to be loaned out. I had never done that before, but I felt it was time to speak to him alone. He understood me and supported me.”

Integration at FC Porto was quick: Kiwior immediately joined the starting eleven, forming a defensive partnership with compatriot Bednarek. The transfer was only finalized at the close of the market, but the player assures that there was preparation and support before his debut. “It’s a shame the transfer was completed literally a day before the transfer window closed. Before meeting the team, I was still at the national team camp. Only after the matches against the Netherlands and Finland did Bednarek and I fly to Portugal,” he reported.

In daily training, the coach’s role was decisive for his adaptation. The player himself highlighted this support:

The role of Francesco Farioli was crucial for his integration: “Fortunately, I had time to prepare well tactically. The coach had several individual conversations with me, explained the details, and analyzed the game. Thanks to that, I immediately had the opportunity to join the team. It was a very positive sign for me: for the first time at a new club, I played right from the start.”

Kiwior rejects the idea that the transfers he made should be seen as setbacks. He recalled past experiences, such as leaving Anderlecht for the Slovak league, explaining that these decisions brought him progress and maturity, especially by living alone and managing his personal life while staying close to family.

In the Porto dressing room, there is a good connection among the players, especially between the Pole and Bednarek. During matches, they often communicate in Polish; when the group is larger, they switch to English.

Finally, Kiwior shared a childhood memory that reveals interests beyond football:

Despite this, football was always the priority and the sport he started playing from a very young age.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.