The 19-year-old from Legia delighted everyone. “He will end up in Real Madrid”

Jan Ziółkowski was one of Legia Warszawa’s best players in Sunday’s match against Warta Poznań (1-0), even though it was his debut in the starting lineup in the top league. The nearly 19-year-old defender impressed not only fans and experts, but also his former coaches. – I’m not surprised that he quickly broke through in Legia. Janek certainly has no less talent than, for example, Pau Cubarsi – said Michał Libich.

On Sunday, Legia Warszawa secured its participation in European cups next season. It happened in the evening after Widzew Łódź drew at home with Lech Poznań 1:1. Earlier in the day, Legia won against Warta Poznań 1-0.

Even though the only goal for Goncalo Feio’s team was scored by Radovan Pankov, the hero of the Legionnaires was Jan Ziółkowski, just 19 years old. The central defender made his debut in the starting eleven of the first team and immediately made a good impression.

– I know how he works and what relationships he has with his colleagues. He was already with the team at camps during the term of the previous coach, then he permanently joined the first team, and for me every player like that can help – said Feio after the match .

– Jan plays and practices to support the team. The moment came when the team needed him for various reasons, and thanks to the work he did, he showed that he was ready. I think he performed well, added the Portuguese coach.

Same talent as Cubarsi

But after the match against Warta, not only Feio praised him. In conversations with the portal przegladsportowy.onet.pl , his former coaches also gushed about Ziółkowski. – Janek had certain features that made it possible to assume that he would play football at a good level. The boys sometimes remind me that I once said in front of all the players that Janek would end up in Real Madrid , and at that time he was 15 years old – said Michał Libich, who saw Ziółkowski when he was a player of Polonia Warszawa.

– I believe that he has everything to play at the highest level, i.e. anticipation, anticipation, physical conditions, intelligence, motor skills, technique and, above all, mentality, because he is a confident and brave footballer, which he showed in the match against Warta – added Libich.

It was he who made Ziółkowski the captain of the team, tempering his character. – At times he had perhaps a bit too high an opinion of himself. I wanted him to think more about the team, so I gave him the captain’s armband and explained how important it was. (…) Previously, he was very irritated when one of his colleagues made a mistake, which did not help him in interpersonal relationships. When he became captain, he knew he had to help rather than depress, Libich said.

– I’m not surprised that he quickly broke through in Legia. Janek certainly has no less talent than, for example, Pau Cubarsi, but in Spain there are better conditions and players get into big football faster. The example of the Legia defender shows that we have many great young players in PKO BP Ekstraklasa teams – concluded Libich.

Cubarsi, to whom Libich compared Ziółkowski, is this year’s discovery for Barcelona. The central defender made his debut in Xavi’s team in the King’s Cup, and a few days later – the day before his 17th birthday – he played in the first team of the La Liga match against Betis. In total, he played 23 matches for the first team this season, including three in the Champions League and 18 in La Liga.

Will Jan Ziółkowski become a permanent member of Legia Warszawa?