Legia did not win any of the three previous matches. Her last victory was on September 1, when she defeated Motor Lublin 5:2.
– We must be aware that we have difficult rivals – there are no easy opponents in the cups. We are aware of our value, but the trick is to maintain it when the moment is difficult, not when everything is winning. The team has already proven that it can play well in Europe, Feio said.
In the qualifying rounds, the Polish runners-up defeated the Welsh Caernarfon Town, the Danish Broendby Copenhagen and Drita Gnjilane from Kosovo. There are 36 teams in the regular phase of the Conference League, which will play six matches each. Eight of them will advance directly to the 1/8 finals, and teams from places 9-24 will compete in the play-offs.
– The format of the competition has changed, so it’s an unknown. Our calculations show that 8-9 points should be enough to advance, but we have to win them on the pitch, said the Portuguese coach.
In the last match against Górnik Zabrze (1:1), Legia played in a new 4-3-3 formation.
– The process of making this decision was comprehensive. It’s not something that happened overnight. I have been saying for a long time that we want to have two possible setups in which we will play. Of course, the weaker performance against Pogoń helped make the decision. As a coach, I feel very comfortable in tactical matters, I don’t have one system that I have to stick to. My task is to find a formula that makes the players feel comfortable. The third reason was the analysis of Górnik’s game. Football is dynamic and we have to get used to different elevens and team configurations. Even during the match there are different phases, explained the Portuguese.
The Legionnaires won only one of ten matches against Spanish clubs.
– Manuel Pellegrini is one of the coaches who have already visited our stadium, and also one of the most experienced. I agree 100% that Betis likes to impose their style of play and control the ball, Feio said.
Betis is in eighth place in La Liga. He scored 12 points in eight rounds. Legia, on the other hand, is seventh in the Ekstraklasa with 15 points after 10 matches.
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– We want to keep our identity. We believe that you can win by being true to your ideals. I believe my team is capable of doing this. We will certainly have to suffer and defend ourselves at times. Betis will probably push us into low defense. But we have to focus on what we will do with the ball. We want to show our style and we do not intend to give up on it, assured Feio.
– Betis and Chelsea London are the teams that are considered favorites in the competition, but we are playing at home and we have the opportunity to get three points. Who we play against does not change our approach to the match. The result is decided on the pitch, not off it, said Legia’s coach.
The match of the first round of the regular phase of the Conference League at the stadium at Łazienkowska will start on Thursday at 6.45 p.m.
Feio also referred to the fact that on Monday two Legia players (Bartosz Kapustka and Maxi Oyedele) were called up to the Polish national team for the October Nations League matches with Portugal and Croatia.
– A footballer cannot achieve success alone – the team must help him. We are happy about it. It also shows that football is unpredictable and it’s worth working hard. In the case of Bartek Kapustka, consistency worked, and after eight years he received the award. Oyedele’s appointment is the kind of story football loves. This confirms how impressive his performance was in Saturday’s match. In my opinion, it is the result of focusing on work and adapting to the team – concluded the Portuguese.
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ps, PAP
