“It was clear Pietuszewski had been out for a long time” | OneFootball

Jan Urban, Poland’s head coach, assessed Oskar Pietuszewski’s competitive return after the 6-0 thrashing of Romania in Group 4 of Nations League B. The FC Porto winger came off the bench and provided an assist, but the coach did not hide the player’s lack of rhythm. About his performance, he was clear: “Not everything came off for him.”

Called up to the national team after returning in the FC Porto-Benfica derby, in the seventh round, Oskar Pietuszewski got more minutes for Poland. After the match against Romania, Jan Urban acknowledged the winger’s willingness, but also the inevitable effects of the long lay-off.

The Polish coach did not confuse physical availability with competitive sharpness. Pietuszewski tried to rediscover his usual moves, although still without the desired consistency.

“It was clear that Pietuszewski had been out for a long time. He wanted to do what he usually does, but the lack of competitive rhythm can’t be hidden,” commented Jan Urban. “Not everything came off for him.”

Urban’s reading places the performance between two signs: the ability to make an impact again, shown by an assist, and the need to regain continuity. In the same match, FC Porto centre-back Jan Bednarek scored one of the goals and announced that he is going to be a father.

Pietuszewski’s presence in this squad, moreover, came about because of a change of plans. The player joined the national team to replace Benfica’s Kaminski, who was injured in the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, after initially being left out of the options.

“The situation was a little unusual, since we were convinced he would continue his recovery and treatment process at the club until he was one hundred percent,” the coach explained in the build-up to the match against Sweden, which Poland won 3-1. “The squad list was announced before the FC Porto-Benfica derby. From the moment we saw Oskar playing the final minutes of that match, we realised we could count on him.”

Urban also detailed how the winger’s use in the derby changed the assessment made by the national team’s coaching staff.

“Initially, I was convinced he would not play and would remain only under treatment,” he explained. “However, when it became clear that the player was on the bench and was used, it was clear that he is in full physical condition, especially since no club would risk the health of its player. That is why we went ahead with his call-up.”

The call-up therefore no longer depended on the initial expectation regarding his recovery and instead came to rest on the signal given by his use against Benfica. Pietuszewski responded with direct involvement in a goal against Romania, although Urban made a point of separating physical condition from the sharpness that only minutes can restore.

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