Puchacz: Lech Poznań should be in the Champions League

Lech Poznań are on the brink of reaching the Europa League league phase, but the debate around their missed Champions League opportunity has not gone away. Tymoteusz Puchacz, a Lech academy graduate now playing for Sabah FK, has said the Polish champions have the quality to compete in Europe’s top club competition.

Lech in a commanding position

Niels Frederiksen’s side head into the return leg against Swiss champions FC Thun with an overwhelming advantage after a 7-0 win in the first match of the fourth qualifying round. From here, only an extraordinary collapse would deny Lech a place in the Europa League.

That said, the idea of simply protecting a lead carries some unease for Polish supporters. Lech’s recent Champions League qualifying exit remains fresh, particularly after they had held a strong advantage against Aarhus following the first leg away from home, only to fail to complete the job in the return match in Poznań.

Puchacz’s verdict on Lech’s level

Puchacz was emphatic in his assessment when speaking on Kanał Sportowy. In his view, Lech have the strongest squad in the Ekstraklasa, with high-level competition for places across the pitch.

Lech has absolutely the best team in the Ekstraklasa with fantastic players. In every position you have two evenly matched players and it is hard to know which one should start. Lech is packed with fantastic footballers. And they should be playing in the Champions League.

His comments reflect a wider sense that Lech’s domestic strength has not yet translated fully into the competition many expected them to reach. Puchacz did not dwell on the reasons for that failure, but his conclusion was clear: the squad is good enough for a higher stage.

Strong praise despite Champions League disappointment

Puchacz’s praise was not limited to the squad on paper. He also pointed to the level of Lech’s performance against Thun as evidence that their current form is no accident.

Lech are playing great football and it is not a coincidence that the champions of Switzerland came there and Lech were able to play like that against them.

There is also a broader Polish angle to the week. Puchacz, who represents Sabah FK, has been part of a side that advanced past Lech’s conquerors and then beat Hapoel Be'er Sheva after extra time to reach the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history. In Champions League qualifying, he contributed five assists in eight matches.

Europa League still offers a major test

For Puchacz, missing out on the Champions League should not overshadow what still lies ahead. He argued that the Europa League can provide an important benchmark for Lech, especially given the calibre of opposition expected in the competition.

He also pointed to the prospect of both Lech and Jagiellonia representing Poland in the Europa League as a reason for optimism rather than regret. Jagiellonia head into their own decisive tie away to Iberia 1999 Tbilisi carrying a four-goal advantage from the first meeting, while Lech face Thun later the same evening.

If Lech finish the job, the conversation may shift from what was lost in Champions League qualifying to what this squad can prove against established European names in the Europa League. For now, though, Puchacz’s verdict is likely to resonate: in his eyes, Lech belong on an even bigger stage.