Nikola Grbic revealed that he made a huge mistake. An exceptionally honest confession

However, having the opportunity to call up over 30 volleyball players, the coach of the Polish national team decided to take advantage of the opportunity. There were 37 players on the list. And among those appointed there were, among others: three Bartoszs: Kurek, Bednorz and Kwolek.

Honest words about Bartosz Bednorz. The Polish coach admitted it directly

The list of those absent, for various reasons, is longer. Norbert Huber also resigned due to health reasons, at least in the context of the 2026 season. Instead, the Serb focused on several really young volleyball players, absolute debutants.

One of them is Jakub Przybyłkowicz, the playmaker of Lechia Tomaszów Mazowiecki (usually a PlusLiga player), who is only 16 years old.

On Thursday’s call-up day, an interview with the Polish coach was published on the #VolleyTime YouTube channel. Grbic explained to the host, Piotr Siekierski, why he made particular choices. There were a lot of topics, and Grbic was also asked if he could admit to mistakes and if he would name three that he made in the past as the coach of the Polish team.

After much consideration, the Serb went back to the 2024 Olympic tournament. As he himself admitted, he should have appointed Bartosz Bednorz. However, the host – currently PGE Projekt Warszawa – lost the competition, in the eyes of the Serb, and the attacker Bartłomiej Bołądź was the “thirteenth” in the Olympic Games 2024 squad.

In this position, the Poles still had Bartosz Kurek and Łukasz Kaczmarek at their disposal.

– I’m sorry that “Benji” wasn’t with us in Paris. I think he has quality and could play in any national team at the Olympics, admitted the Polish coach.

And why will Bednorz be missing this time? The decision was made due to personal matters, which were mentioned by both the coach and the volleyball player himself in a special statement published on social media.

However, the entire interesting conversation with the Serbian coach, quoted earlier, can be watched below.

Is Nikola Grbic a guarantee of medals for the Polish team? Statistics don’t lie!

The Serbian coach has been working in the Polish national team since the beginning of 2022. In the case of Grbic, it can be safely admitted that whatever the coach touches, he turns into a medal. Statistics show clearly – in each of the most important events (i.e. Olympic Games, World and European Championships, Nations League), Poles, under the baton of the current coach, stood on the podium.

Starting from 2022: silver in the World Championships and bronze in the VNL. Then 2023, definitely the most successful year for Poles – two golds, the European Championship and the Nations League. In 2024, VNL bronze and silver in the Olympic tournament. Last season? VNL gold and World Championship bronze medals.

It is therefore hardly surprising that Poles are the leader of the FIVB world ranking. Poland has held this position, with minor breaks, for many years. The first long-term domination in this ranking on the white and red side lasted from June 2022. After slight perturbations in 2025, when the Poles fell to the second position for a moment, everything returned to “normal” in July last year.

It is therefore no surprise that regardless of the composition of the Polish national team, it is indicated in every possible place as one of the favorites to play for the most valuable laurels. This is not only the merit of coach Grbic, but certainly the consistently built position, actually since the runner-up finish in the world championship in… 2006.