WhoScored Interviews Liverpool Target Piotr Zielinski

While Piotr Zielinski showed glimpses of his true quality at his parent club Udinese, it’s been during a two year spell on loan at Empoli that the midfielder has been able to show off all of his skills with a certain continuity. After a first season under manager Maurizio Sarri, in which he mainly had an impact as a substitute, the Polish midfielder has been given his real breakthrough with new head coach Marco Giampaolo. 

How much credit should we give the manager? How normal a step was it in the development of a playmaker at this stage in his career; the highest rated player aged 21 or under in Serie A this season? With a few games left to play in Italy and ahead of a European Championship in which he hopes to play a big role for his national team, Poland's great prospect has answered questions from WhoScored.com. The interview revealed a portrait of a mature young man, full of dreams and determined to make them come true.

Having been given more playing time following your loan move to Empoli ahead of the last season, how confident were you that this would prove to be your real breakthrough campaign and that you would be afforded so much time on the pitch?

Somehow I expected it a bit. After the first season I spoke to Empoli’s sports director Marcello Carli and he said the club was keen to keep me for a second year, and that I would surely be afforded more time on the pitch. The club and the manager showed faith in me and I am very happy with how things are going.

How does it feel to have become such a key player for Empoli this season?

There are plenty of good players here at Empoli, not only those with more experience such as Daniele Croce and Massimo Maccarone, who are surely special for us in terms of performances and charisma. We are a tight knit group and a good bunch of players, and this is our secret.

Although you only made one appearance in qualifying, how confident are you that your performances this season will not only earn a place in the Poland squad for Euro 2016 but a potential starting berth?

I hope so, if I play well here at Empoli I hope to earn a place in Poland’s starting XI at UEFA EURO 2016 too. The two training camps scheduled ahead of the tournament will be of massive importance; I will try to show my qualities and convince our coach. I will give my all, but I know there are other good players in my position too.

You have completed the fifth most dribbles in Serie A this season, do you consider this to be your greatest strength?

Well, dribbling is part of my style of play, but I think I have other skills too. I am technically quite gifted and I can play with accuracy with both feet, which are both useful assets for a player. 

At this early stage in your career what aspects of your game do you feel you need to improve upon in the coming years?

I certainly need to develop from a defensive point of view. There are movements I am not doing really well, so I need to work on that aspect of my game. 

What do you feel have been the main differences in tactics and training since Marco Giampaolo replaced Maurizio Sarri in the summer?

To be honest with you, the situation hasn’t changed that much. We play the same tactical formation and our training sessions are just slightly different. Giovanni Martusciello and Sarri’s former staff have remained with us, so there are no big differences to last year, at least as far as our tactic is concerned. 

Which current players do you admire in your position and who did you look up to growing up?

In Italy I adore Paul Pogba, who is one of the best players in his position worldwide. I also really like Luka Modric and Andrés Iniesta, who are simply fantastic players.

As a young player emerging in the game as statistics are becoming common place in both opposition and individual analysis, how much attention do you pay to your own numbers? 

I don’t honestly look too much into my personal stats: every player knows if he has performed well or not on the pitch. I talk about my performances with a few people close to me, and they also help me analyse them and give me suggestions how to do things better. Nevertheless, we analyse our games with videos and statistical data with Empoli’s staff, and that is where stats become important for us.

According to WhoScored.com’s statistical ratings, you are the top performing player aged 21 or under in Serie A (7.20). Just how pleased have you been with your individual performances this season?

I am happy about how things are going for me. From a personal point of view I am satisfied, but the most important thing is the performances of the team as a whole. We are doing quite well, there are a few games left to play and we want to finish off the season on a high.

Your form has seen you attract interest from across Europe. Is it fair to say that you see your immediate future away from parent club Udinese?

I really don’t know yet. Let’s finish off the league, I will do my best at the European Championships and then we will see. It’s hard to talk about my future now, it’s my agent who takes care of these things. There are too many important games coming up in the next few weeks to think of my future now.

Liverpool is one club in particular that has been rumoured to show a strong interest in you. Do you feel that your playing style would suit the Premier League and does the idea of working under someone as successful as Jurgen Klopp appeal to you?

I don’t know if my playing style would suit the Premier League, and I haven’t thought about my future yet. As I said, it’s my agent who deals with these topics. Regardless of my personal situation, Klopp is one of the best managers around and it would certainly be an honour to work with him.

Are there any other clubs or managers, in England or elsewhere in Europe that you would like the chance to represent in the future?

Well, there are several clubs around Europe whose style of football I admire. But I have to concentrate on my present now, with Empoli and the Polish national team.

The recent derby win over Fiorentina all but assured Empoli's top-flight status. How did it feel to score such an important goal to end what had been a disappointing run of results?

It was really a great feeling! I am happy to have scored against Fiorentina, it’s a big club. My goal helped us win an important game and give our fans something to celebrate. The club had been waiting a few years for such a success in the derby, so I am glad I could play my part in it.

The joy that Zielinski felt when scoring against Fiorentina would no doubt be matched by Empoli’s fans if they were able to sing his name for another season. However, looking back to his sumptuous performances, this appears to be improbable, and the Biancoblu supporters may only have the chance to admire his elegant style in the last few Serie A games left to play. They will have fond memories of the youngster, whose future seems to be very bright having been one of the main protagonists in yet another surprising season for Empoli.

Where do you think Zielinski will be playing his football next season, and should he start for Poland at the Euros this summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below