Ruins. In a Polish city of 300,000, they started from scratch. "Many would have packed their bags."

Adrian Heluszka (Przegląd Sportowy Onet): I admit I thought we'd have the opportunity to talk under slightly better circumstances. After four league rounds, GKS Katowice has one point. What do you think is the team's main problem at the start of the season? The first conclusion is obvious: a lack of effectiveness and a top-class striker.

Arkadiusz Jędrych (GKS Katowice captain): I think these are the easiest excuses. You can't blame the lack of good results solely on that. It's a complex process, but I wouldn't lump all four matches together. I would exclude the match against Legia. While our first three matches weren't our best, although we had good moments, we deservedly didn't win them, we played our game against Legia on our own terms. We returned to our roots and what we showed last season. If we maintain this form, sooner or later our first win will come. I believe we'll get going enough to finish the fall round first, and then the entire season in a good mood.

In your opinion, was this the best GieKSy match this season?

Over the course of these four matches, I think so. Obviously, the results say otherwise. Someone might look back and say, "We conceded three goals again, and our finishing wasn't great either," but in terms of game-building, mentality, and organization, I think this was our best of the four matches. After many good moments, there's something to build on for the future.

This is a huge advantage of GKS Katowice. "There is no other locker room like this in Poland."

Coach Rafał Górak said after the match that he "didn't want to take my grumpy dislikes back to the coach." What did you say in the locker room after the match? It's difficult to judge it definitively. Your performance in the first half, in particular, was certainly impressive.

When you concede a goal, or even two in the 90th minute, which cost you points, there's always resentment. But there's always a group of people in the locker room who will extract the positives. Right after the match ends, it's always a difficult moment when something slips through your fingers. And it was all worked out; nothing happened by chance. The resentment in the locker room was immense, but when we calmed down and looked at the match calmly, we knew that if we were well-organized and consistent, the goals, points, and our good form would come.

Last July, in an interview with "Przegląd Sportowy," you said that few locker rooms function like yours in Katowice. In fact, every GKS player says it's your greatest asset. Do you feel that at this difficult moment?

I've said many times that there's no locker room like this in Poland, and anyone who's had the pleasure of being a part of it, even for a moment, will confirm this. Every player notices it after a week or two. This applies to both those who've played in European competitions and those who join us from lower leagues. Everyone says this locker room is magical.

There's a saying that "a friend in need is a friend indeed," and it perfectly reflects this locker room. But let's not make a big deal out of this situation after four rounds. The table is only counted after the 34th round. Remember, we didn't start previous seasons in both the Ekstraklasa and the First League as we expected. I'm convinced that the locker room will become even more united in moments like these, allowing us to pick up points in the coming rounds.

You're a seasoned player, and you've experienced various vicissitudes at Bukowa. And much more difficult moments. I spoke with Adrian Błąd after our promotion to the Ekstraklasa, and we reminisced about relegation to the second division, among other things. You took that hard yourself, having joined GKS just six months earlier. The assumptions were completely different. Adrian emphasized one word: ruins.

Indeed, after relegation, there was a lot of ruin. Both for the entire team and for me personally. In practically one season, I went from being an Ekstraklasa player to a second-division player. For me, it was a huge blow and a real lesson in life.

Was this purgatory?

You could say that, looking back, it was a catharsis that began six years ago with my arrival. After our relegation, a new chapter began; GieKSa started from scratch. There was a massive cleaning of the locker rooms. This process affected not only the players but also the coaches and staff at the club.

Before what happened, I had only one goal in Katowice: playing with GKS Katowice in the Ekstraklasa. After relegation, I felt a responsibility to stay, take up the mantle, and do everything I could to ensure the team grew stronger and got back on track. I knew GKS was such a large club, with such a strong fan base and tradition, that sooner or later, with wise management, it would return to its rightful place. Year after year, the process continued, and we found ourselves in the Ekstraklasa. From those ashes, a club and its entire entourage emerged, which is now at a truly excellent level. Now we must do everything we can to ensure Katowice can enjoy playing in the Ekstraklasa for years to come.

How many times in recent weeks have you heard that this second season for the newcomer to the Ekstraklasa is much more difficult?

I admit that this may have occurred to me once at a recent meeting with fans, but I quickly corrected it. In my opinion, such a statement is like looking for an alibi before the season starts when something doesn't go as planned. I told my teammates in the locker room not to look for such excuses. We know it's not easy, but that can be said about any season at this level.

Some might look back at last season, when we finished eighth, and say it was easy, smooth, and enjoyable. But it definitely wasn't. Not everyone is aware of what was happening within the team. You have to focus on the here and now. What matters is hard work based on a specific process and a strong belief that it will yield results.

You could say the "honeymoon" phase is over. You've euphorically entered the elite league after a 19-year hiatus, plus you've moved to a new stadium. And now I have the impression you're facing the grind of league reality.

Our first three matches certainly weren't perfect, but I don't want to draw any far-reaching conclusions. I believe you know a man by how he finishes, and I'm also reminding the guys in the locker room of that. There's no point looking at the table, because after rounds 4, 8, or 12, it still won't matter. We're aware of our situation and want much more. There were some changes in the team before the season, and it's undeniable that new players need some time. But on the other hand, we know perfectly well that there simply isn't that much time to build a team in the Ekstraklasa. You have to be ready here and now.

Football life has been a real struggle for him. "I can't draw a line under it."

You're talking about changes within the team. Many fans are noticing Oskar Repka's absence in midfield. You've had the opportunity to observe his development within the team. Where is his ceiling?

I always try to remind my teammates in the locker room not to set limits. That will become the simplest limitation. As for Oskar, he's made tremendous progress, and playing for GieKS has contributed significantly to his personal development. He's a reliable, intelligent guy, and I'm convinced that with his titanic work ethic, he'll go far.

Let's go back to that most difficult period for a moment. Did you have any moments of doubt?

Of course. I won't lie. I'm an emotional player, and I take everything that happens in the locker room and around the club home with me. I always take everything personally, I experience it, and I can't just brush it off with a thick line. It wasn't an easy time for me personally. However, I knew that usually a bumpy road leads to a highway, which is much more pleasant to drive on, and taking up the gauntlet in difficult times will allow me to look myself in the mirror with pride in the long run. Many people would probably have packed up and left the club without admitting it. I felt a sense of responsibility and a sense that I had something to do here.

There's a slogan among fans: "GieKS is here, the pressure is here," which has troubled many players. So what were your thoughts in the moment after relegation?

There was a huge uncertainty about what would happen next for the club and beyond. It affected every aspect. We didn't know where we stood. The term "ashelf" describes it perfectly, as coach Rafał Górak himself said he found himself faced with a huge question mark. There was a complete change in the locker room, as only Adrian Błąd and I remained from the original team.

There were a lot of emotions after the relegation, both sporting and non-sporting. It was a rollercoaster, but we managed to sort it all out and start building things up step by step. This was also thanks to conversations with the coach. It was a clear signal to me that this process was worthwhile and that we could build a solid foundation here. Although in my first season in the second division, I also got a slap in the face when we didn't manage to get promoted. A big thank you goes to the fans, who continued to believe in us despite the gloomy times. And remember, in Katowice, this situation lasted not just five or 10 years, but much longer.

Some even call you a "man of steel" because you avoid injuries. Does hearing such descriptions make you smile? Because it's the result of years of hard work and self-care.

To be honest, I don't like talking about myself. I'm the kind of person who always tries to do enough for myself and my family so that after a training session or match, I can look in the mirror and say I did everything I could to reach the highest level and get the most out of my football journey. I'm even talking about training preparation, recovery, and nutrition. I try to pay attention to the little things, because they're the key to success and the ability to build positive things on those negatives. I always try to give everything 120 percent, and when someone on the sidelines appreciates that, it's always a pleasure.

In your interview with "Weszło," you touched on a few interesting points about your life. You often emphasize that you had to work for everything because you weren't gifted with that much talent. Were there many opinions that you weren't cut out for, say, the Ekstraklasa?

Maybe not much, and even when they did appear, I always tried to prove not so much to myself but to everyone around me that hard work can take you far. If someone has gifts and talent, it's simply easier. I don't deny that, because you also need a helping hand of luck to achieve success. I've always been a humble person, standing to the side and not stepping out of line. I never exuded emotion, but rather quietly tried to work and do my thing. With full faith that it would eventually pay off.

I can say that I feel that life and sport have given back as much as I've given. Despite my age (33), I still have the desire to prove to myself that I can do better every day. It's the same in matches. Even when we win 3-0, I always find a play that simply could have been better.

Sport was instilled in him from an early age.

Where does your coordination come from? Few players with your physical stature (over 190 cm tall and weighing 90 kg) are so mobile and fast. You also take penalties. I know soccer wasn't the only sport you played as a child.

Yes, and here, much of the credit goes to my parents for keeping my fitness and coordination at such a high level, considering my circumstances. I'm very grateful to them for that. It's not easy for such a competitor to compete against smaller opponents. And I don't feel inferior to them at all; quite the opposite. I can hold my own against them quite well. And I think that's a result of what my parents allowed me to do at an early age. I was free to choose what I felt most comfortable with.

I had the pleasure of horseback riding and swimming. I took ballroom dancing classes, did judo, and did gymnastics. There was a bit of that. How I function on the court is a result of the opportunity I had as a young person to test myself, to see where I felt most comfortable. I also remember a story about my judo coach being unable to accept this and refusing to let me go. He knew he might lose a valuable player in the future. But I remember that the ball thrown during the warm-up of judo training always won, and I was drawn to it. But to this day, I still enjoy returning to other disciplines; I really enjoy going to the pool. I want to thank my parents for this opportunity, because it's possible that, touch wood, I'll avoid injuries thanks to it.

Did you manage to convince your wife to fight in the cage after retiring? I know that's one of your dreams too.

Maybe not as much as dreams, but I enjoy confronting opponents and combat sports. I've had this since my parents signed me up for judo. It's also an incentive to step outside my comfort zone and test myself. Has my wife been persuaded? I return to it often, and it's a joyful time at home. For now, football is the priority, and that's where I want to focus.

"Boy, you're ours, you have to raise your hat and lead us"

You've experienced some wonderful, yet bitter, moments with coach Górak over the years. He hasn't always gotten along with the fans. The coach exudes incredible charisma and is a born speaker, but he's often said he's had moments of doubt and you've had to straighten him out.

I think he had several such difficult moments at GieKS. I can't say which were the hardest, because the coach himself would have to talk about it. But there were certainly many conversations with the players. We always made it clear that if the coach needed help, no matter how it sounded, we were open and would go through fire for him.

That's the only way it can work. If one side breaks away and veers off in a different direction, this club won't function properly. We knew that when the coach was having a difficult moment, we'd grab him by the shoulders and say, "Man, you're ours, you have to lift your hat and lead us." We'd been through difficult moments ourselves, but then the coach, either bluntly or with a look, was enough to call us to order.

Is Saturday's match against Arka Gdynia a six-point game for you?

I don't think so. You can earn three points in every match, and we'll go out on Saturday with that mindset. For us, every upcoming match is the most important, and that will be the case this time as well. We'll do everything we can to prepare properly and then go out and give our best. We want to rise to the occasion with our 12th player and take the three points.

And the slogan "Arka Gdynia" evokes very positive memories among GieKSy fans.

If anyone had the pleasure of participating and being part of this process, which was given a nice seal of approval in the match in Gdynia, it's certainly very motivating. Let's hope it stays that way, and this match will be a great spectacle for the fans. I can only congratulate them on finally, after some time, finding their way back to the Ekstraklasa. Let this be a great summary: that we eliminated Arka from the promotion race back then, and now we can compete in the top flight.