Kochanowski: To win the Champions League is a dream for every player

Jakub Kochanowski was the best middle blocker in the play-offs of the CEV Champions League Volley 2021 – Men earning with Grupa Azoty Zaksa KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE a highly-coveted ticket to the Super Finals in Verona. The 23-year-old member of Poland's 'golden generation' not only triumphed at under-aged categories, but he has also played a vital role in the senior national team of Poland becoming the 2018 world champion. Now, Kochanowski – who joined Grupa Azoty Zaksa KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE this season – hopes to fulfil his next dream and lift the Champions League trophy in the city of Romeo and Juliet, on May 1.

On a way to their first ever final of Europe’s elite competition, Grupa Azoty Zaksa KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE defeated Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA and Zenit KAZAN after extremely thrilling battles. "Our strength is that we don't give up no matter what's going on in the game. In every match we fought for every ball. Our coaching staff prepared us very well for every game. In the group phase, quarter- and semi-finals we gave our best, showing our best Volleyball, so in my opinion the combination of these two elements was a key to success" – said Jakub Kochanowski.

Being asked for the most meaningful victory in their #CLVolleyM campaign Kochanowski answers without hesitation: "Double-header with Lube! They were favourites to win this edition of the Champions League and I think that the strongest emotions accompanied these games. Most people gave us up for lost, saying that it's impossible to defeat Lube and we proved that we can do it even at their home court, earning three points. A week later, we again delivered a top performance winning a Golden Set, so these were our most precious and best games for me, thus far. It's only a shame that our fans couldn't be with us at the venue during both matches in Kędzierzyn Koźle - against Lube and Kazan, because I believe that then it would have been the unforgettable show for all the people present there. Unfortunately, these days we couldn't invite fans to the hall, but either way I am sure that even in a few years people will remember what Zaksa achieved this season."

Despite his young age, Jakub Kochanowski has an impressive medal collection that not only includes the trophies won at under-aged categories, but also several won with the senior national team, including gold won at the 2018 World Championship and bronze earned at the EuroVolley 2019. Back in 2019, he played in the semi-final of the Champions League as a player of PGE Skra Bełchatów, but now for the first time he will fight in the gold medal match of Europe’s elite club competition to make his next dream come true. 

In the final match of the CEV Champions League Volley – Men, having the most prestigious club trophy at stake, Grupa Azoty Zaksa KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE will face TRENTNIO Itas, however both teams have now a period without games, as Zaksa completed the national league as a runners-up on Sunday, once Trentino was eliminated in semi-finals in late-March. "This kind of break can be both a benefit and an obstacle on a way to achieve a top shape for the final. Trentino will have almost a month of break. For some teams such a long period to work on and rest can be an advantage, but some need to be in match-rhythm to be in the best shape. It's hard to say how it influences their game. I believe that the fact that we don't have such a long break is good. We still have enough time to rest and to improve some elements that didn't work perfectly in the last matches. Trentino, similar to us, was looking for its identity during this season and they also found it. They lost in the playoffs [in the national league] to one of the strongest teams in Italy, so it cannot be considered as a setback. I think that they presented a really good Volleyball at the end of the season, a question is if they have kept this level after one month of break or maybe they even raised it - then, it will be a big challenge for us to win with them. At first glance, they are a team without any visible weakness or flaw, as they have presented a high level in all skills. But we and our coaching staff will do our best to find their weak spot and use it ruthlessly, because every team has its weaknesses."