Today, Sebastian Kowalczyk is the sensational leader of the Ekstraklasa with Zagłębie Lubin, which no one expected to do well.  "It may not be modern football, but it is effective. We are top of the league. We are fighting for the championship this season," he says in an exclusive interview with beIN Sports USA.

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(Filip Zieliński, beIN Sports correspondent in Poland): How do you feel after returning from the United States?

Sebastian Kowalczyk, Zagłębie Lubin, ex Houston Dynamo player): I'm finally home in Poland. But I truly enjoyed my time in the United States. Especially my time at Dynamo was very enjoyable. I liked it a lot. Of course, I had some bad moments too, but that's life. Overall, however, it was an excellent adventure for me and my family.

Why did you decide to return to Poland?

There were many reasons that made me decide that I had to and wanted to return to Europe, especially since the distance between Poland and the US is so great. I was there alone, only with my wife and son, without the rest of my family. It was difficult. To be honest, there were certain factors that told me it was time to come back.

But did you like living in Houston, Texas?

Did I like it? Yes and no. It depends on how you look at it. Houston is a really hot place. In the summer, it's challenging to spend time outside. But it's also a very nice place, and everyone is polite and helpful to each other. Yes, it was a perfect time in my life.

What are your best memories of Houston?

Probably the first and second seasons. Because in the first season we won the cup and reached the conference finals, and in the second season we broke all the club records, so it was also a successful season. Unfortunately, we lost in the first round of the playoffs. So it wasn't anything special, but overall, we played in the playoffs for two seasons in a row and won a trophy. That will stay with me for the rest of my life.

How did you feel playing against such great players as Jordi Alba or Luis Suarez? 

It was like a dream come true. You watch their games on TV, and then suddenly one day you're on the pitch with them. Yes, it's a wonderful feeling, but when you're on the pitch, you don't think about it. You just think about how to score a goal, how to win the game, how to cause them problems. Unfortunately, in that game, they caused us more issues than we caused them. We lost that game 1-4, if I recall correctly. So it wasn't a good moment, it wasn't a good night. But when I think about it now, I'm glad it happened to me.

How would you rate the level of the Ekstraklasa compared to MLS?

It's hard to say. Of course, the money is bigger...

In Poland or in the US?

In the United States. Clubs can buy and pay for three big contracts. So there are plenty of famous players in this league. There's Leo Messi, Luis Suarez, Marco Reus, Heung-min Son, and many other good players. These players make a difference. But if you don't count those players, those big names, I think the Polish Ekstraklasa is quite similar. The level is also good.

So MLS was the right level for you?

Yes. It was a good decision for me. When I came to the US from Poland, I felt that it was the next step in my development. I learned a lot in this league, in Houston, during training and matches. I'm glad that happened and I think it was the right decision at the time.

What did you miss most during your stay in the United States?

I think my family and close friends. I'm an open person, so I have no problem feeling comfortable in the locker room and making new friends. But I have my loved ones here in Poland. I have my family, my mom, dad, brother, and grandmother. I think I missed them the most. During games and training, I got used to it, but in everyday life, I couldn't get used to the weather either. It was so different from Poland. It was really, really hot. But yes, it was my job at the time. So I had to prepare myself that this was a moment that wouldn't last, I don't know, ten or twenty years. So I tried to enjoy it and give my all during training, and I can say that now, when I look at my phone and look at the photos, I feel great. I'm glad it all happened.

What attracted you to Zagłębie Lubin?

I talked to a few people. I talked to the captain because Damian Dąbrowski played with me at another Polish club where I come from. So we know each other very well. I talked to him. He told me he would like to play with me again. He told me everything about the club. I said, “OK, let's do it.”

Why did you sign such a short contract for only six months?

When my contract with Dynamo ended, it was probably in October. So I had about two or three months until the end of the year. I was without a club. I was doing various things on my own, and the clubs would rather not take a risk. Zagłębie offered me this contract. If everything goes well, we will extend the contract for a year. That's fine with me, because I can get back into the league and everything, and we'll see what happens in the summer.

Does Zagłębie's current position at the top of the league reflect its potential? Everyone is talking about a sensation.

I think it's difficult to play against us. Everyone who knows our style of play can say the same thing, that we play low defense. It's hard to beat us because we defend very well. We give our all on the pitch. We are dangerous from set pieces. It may not be modern football, but it is effective. We are top of the league. We are fighting for the championship this season. It doesn't matter how we achieve it. This season, the most important thing is where you finish.

What is the atmosphere like in the locker room?

Amazing. Really. Amazing. For three years in the United States, I spoke Spanish and English. It was difficult for me to understand everything, but in Houston there was a really good atmosphere in the locker room. Here, most of the players are from Poland, so we speak Polish. We joke a lot, there's wonderful chemistry in the team.

What are the good and bad sides of the team?

I can't talk about the bad sides because I would rather not help our opponents, but I'll talk about the good sides. The good side is that we are one team. I know it's easy to say and probably everyone says it, but you can see it on the field. Everyone likes each other and we like spending time together. We don't do it because we have to be together in the locker room. We do it because we like each other. So when I wake up in the morning and have to come to the club, I do it with a smile on my face. So I think that's the biggest advantage. And the disadvantages? Everyone has them.

It's well known that the MLS schedule works differently than in Europe. Are you fully ready for the season, or do you need more time?

Yes, it was the first time in my life that I trained alone for almost three months. This happened because we finished the season in the United States earlier than we expected, as we lost the playoffs. And as I mentioned, I trained alone for three months. It was difficult for me because it had never happened to me before. To be honest, I don't know, I feel good, I feel prepared, but in the most important games you can't be in top form if you don't play every week. We'll see, I feel good and I hope I can help the team. I'm just doing my job during training. I'm trying to give it my all and we'll see what comes of it.

Did you receive offers from other clubs in Poland?

Yes. My manager talked to several teams from Poland, but in the end, Zagłębie was the most specific with their offer. We didn't have many negotiations, we agreed right away.

And from abroad?

There was something, but ultimately nothing came of it. I don't know, you could say I had this, I had that, but at last, there was nothing concrete. There were only inquiries about me directed to my manager. I'm here and I'm happy about it. I have a contract until the end of the season. I truly believe it will be a successful season for us. We'll see.

Another Polish player, Mateusz Bogusz, has joined Houston Dynamo. How do you rate his transfer?

Yes, I talked to him before the transfer. He asked me what it was like in Houston. I tried to tell him the truth, not only about the good things, but also about what was difficult for me when I was there. I think it's a really good move for Dynamo. Mateusz is young, but he has experience in this league because everyone remembers him from LA when he had a fantastic season. So I told him that if he had the opportunity to leave, he should do it. You know, I think it's a superb move for both sides. Dynamo is also a good team that likes to play soccer. They prefer to play, especially now that Hector Herrera is back at the club. 

In 2021, you were called up to the Polish national team while still playing for Pogoń Szczecin. Do you think you have a better chance of being noticed by coach Jan Urban in the Ekstraklasa than in MLS?

I don't look at it that way. Ultimately, what matters is how many goals and assists you score. It doesn't matter whether you do it in MLS or Ekstraklasa. The most important thing for me is to keep playing better and better.

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