Fiorentina vs Jagiellonia Bialystok: Jagiellonia Coach Adrian Siemieniec Proud of His Team's Effort
Jagiellonia Bialystok’s journey in this season’s UEFA Conference League ended in the play-off round after a close 5-4 aggregate defeat to Fiorentina on Thursday. However, coach Adrian Siemieniec affirmed that his team leaves the competition with immense pride, having put up a strong fight against the Serie A side.
After trailing significantly in the first leg, Jagiellonia demonstrated strong mentality at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, even taking a 3-0 lead before Fiorentina fought back to secure the aggregate victory.
In the post-match press conference, Siemieniec praised his team’s courage in challenging a team from one of Europe’s top leagues.
“I am proud of this team, the players, the level they have reached, and their courage in playing. We can leave this stadium with our heads held high,” said Siemieniec. “Today, we created another beautiful story. Even though we were eliminated, we left with pride after winning (in the second leg) against a team from the Top 5 league.”
The Polish coach reflected on his club’s journey over the past two seasons, where they have competed with major names like Real Betis, Ajax, and Fiorentina. He believes that this experience will be valuable for the history of Polish football.
The main highlight of the match was Jagiellonia’s young star, Bartosz “Mazi” Mazurek. The 19-year-old scored a spectacular hat-trick against Fiorentina, a feat that Siemieniec considers an inspiration for young players.
“Today, ‘Mazi’ took home the ball after scoring three goals against Fiorentina. Let this be an inspiration for all young players that the path of investment and courage is worthwhile,” said the coach.
However, Siemieniec cautioned Mazurek against complacency. “The key is to ensure that you are not only remembered for one match. This is not the end, but the beginning of a journey. ‘Mazi’ still has a lot of work ahead of him, but I am confident that he will reach a higher level.”
With the end of their European adventure, Jagiellonia will now focus all their energy on the domestic league competition. Siemieniec believes that the return to a schedule of one match per week will be a golden opportunity to improve the tactical aspects that have been neglected due to the busy schedule.
“Today, this stage of the European season ends, but the goals in the league are ahead. I am sure that at the end of this season, we will all celebrate together,” he concluded optimistically. (Jagiellonia Bialystok/Z-2)