Legia frustrates Rumak's tactical sense

Bartosz Ślusarski was leaving the pitch as one of the last - beaten, unhappy and fuming at the result and chances that came his way but he missed them wastefully. The last thing he needed was a rather loud fan, who from his position in the stands just over the tunnel was loudly commenting on Ślusarski's performance - even advising him to give up playing. The response, however, came and misfiring forward offered supporter to come down and face him like a man.

This wasn't the most spectacular meltdown Polish football have seen in recent years - that happened more than an hour before, on the pitch, as Legia ripped Lech apart time by time with their precise, fast counters. Shocked by the horrible injury of their teammate and back four leader, Manuel Arboleda, they were in shock when Jakub Kosecki turned out to be onside while linking with Jakub Wawrzyniak's long pass. Then Rafał Murawski, Lech's captain and one of best earners, was unable to stop Legia's left-back run, despite Wawrzyniak's recent injury that allowed him to train only once before the prestigious encounter. Although it was visitors' third goal in thirty minutes that was a piece of almost unbelievably horrible defending from Lech - Radović exposed space behind Ceesay again, went on a run as opposing defenders simply allowed him to enter the box and finish his move.

"I'm not sad, I'm irritated" - claimed Mariusz Rumak afterwards. "We lacked what I am responsible - tactics" - explained his team's meltdown. That is insufficient to say, though, as Lech managed to win only two home games out of six  so far, while their widely discussed minimalistic approach maybe guaranteed them the place at the top, but wasn't enough to keep Legia out from scoring. Górnik Zabrze needed only organization to keep Lech far from their goal, Jagiellonia had two lucky breaks and hit them instantly to notch famous win. Legia was always the most dangerous of them all, especially with fast wingers and technical presence of Danijel Ljuboja, but Lech should be prepared.

They weren't and, for what is worse, they looked surprised at how Legia went through them, once and again. Pressure and emotions are one thing, but discipline quite the other and that was the least Rumak could expect. Marcin Kamiński should be used to festive atmosphere and important games through the experience gained in Poznan so far, and by enjoying the role of one of the leaders in Poland youth teams. But this wouldn't be right to put the blame all on young defender's shoulders - what should worry Mariusz Rumak the most is the way his senior players crumbled under Legia's presence. Murawski, Ślusarski, Ceesay and Trałka - they are were at fault for the result more than their younger teammates. For what is worth, it was young Karol Linetty who stood out and matched his opponents.

"I can't wait for the reverse fixture in Warsaw" - was the message through gritted teeth of Mariusz Rumak. He knows that it may be quite different story with incoming winter. Whereas he is looking at the position needing reinforcements - now add an experienced central defender to his list - Jan Urban openly admits that the state of Legia's finances will demand selling some parts of his best assets.

Scale of work ahead of Lech, and the differences in class proved by Legia, were exposed with unexpected ease - Edgar Cani coming from Polonia Warsaw is more known from his off-the-pitch antics (lately, he was kicked out from Polonia after he was sent for last minutes in Bełchatów and managed to win penalty - although showing his unhappiness on the bus home) than scored goals. To those who prefer to remember the red cards and conflicts, Cani is actually good at what he should be in the first place - eleven goals last troubling season prove just that.

"There is no point in saying that the title race is over" - said Jan Urban straight away. "A slight slip from leaders and it will open up again - this is Polish football for you, after all."

Urban by no means was triumphant after the game, yet found a way to sympathize with his younger rival and even show him the way Rumak should follow. "In our league a lot can be achieved simply by courage and motivation but this isn't the right one. Organization and positional attack is the key ability." Mariusz Rumak was certain, through his results so far, that Lech at least has it - hence the minimalistic approach, but as Legia exposed his side, once there was no discipline, lack of fight and motivation put them far behind title favourites. It seems that this time his job - no matter how much of it is needed to catch Legia - will not be simply restricted to the drawing board.