Poles can't play the Champions League. Bad luck in the draw isn't everything.

Over the past few years, UEFA has slightly changed its policy regarding smaller clubs trying to grab the big bucks awaiting them in European competitions. Even Polish clubs have secured a piece of the pie, something that wasn't obvious just a few years ago.

The Conference League (formerly Europa League) has become a place where Ekstraklasa players feel particularly at home. Examples include three quarterfinals, first with Lech Poznań (2022/23), and last season with two Polish clubs at this stage – Legia Warsaw and Jagiellonia Białystok. Plus, the Conference League final in Wrocław, though that's no fault of the Ekstraklasa's level, but certainly another nice Polish touch.

Champions League, or waiting for a breakthrough in the UEFA rankings

Out of 34 attempts, the Polish champions only managed to break into the crème de la crème of football three times. Most often, Polish fans were treated to a preseason of curdled cream. Until then, the scenario was that by the time the greats actually began playing seriously, it was all over for the top teams. Alternatively, dreams of surviving until spring began, which meant pushing through to the autumn matches, perhaps in the former UEFA Cup (today's Europa League), or, more recently, taking increasingly serious steps in the Conference League.

The three instances in which the Polish champions managed to advance were two adventures that ended in the group stage: Widzew Łódź in the 1996/97 campaign and Legia Warsaw in the 2016/17 season. The best result was achieved at the first attempt. The 1995/96 edition of the competition saw the Legionnaires reach the quarter-finals.

Even taking into account this last time Legia played in the Champions League, next season will mark exactly a decade since those events.

Another thing is that, remembering my childhood fandom at the beginning of the 21st century, there was some misunderstanding regarding the draw for Polish clubs. For example? In 2001, Wisła Kraków's opponent was... FC Barcelona. The next season? Legia Warsaw and a two-legged tie with the same opponent from the Catalan capital. Two years later (2004/05), the Kraków team faced... Real Madrid. Not enough? The 2008/09 season and a repeat for Wisła, again in a two-legged tie with Barcelona.

Of course, there were such defeats as 2009/10 (Wisła against Estonian Levadia Tallinn), 2022/23 (Lech against Azerbaijani Karabakh) or Legia's bizarre walkover in the rematch against Celtic.

Now it's a bit easier, with two qualifying paths, and UEFA continuing to expand the table—actually, a large bench—at which smaller teams can also sit. Read: like the Ekstraklasa.

This year's attempt, Lech's sixth on the road to their Champions League dreams, was a mix of bad luck (injuries) and financial constraints. The latter doesn't allow the Polish champions to be compared to clubs like Crvena Zvezda. The Belgrade legend is a mid-table European prospect, but he still has the resources to spend significantly more than the Polish representative.

One can also speculate what would have happened if the match hadn't gone from 1-3 to 1-2 in Belgrade. Although I have the impression that Red Star, though not outstanding, controlled the entire match from A to Z. The 4-2 aggregate score for the Serbs says enough. It's a shame.

It seems that the fastest way for a Polish club to return to the Champions League is... the UEFA rankings. Even there, it won't be easy, but it's probably a bit easier than fighting your way through the qualifying rounds. Because in the end, something always happens. The Conference League is the way to go, beating your equals, and sometimes causing bigger surprises.

Although Poles still can't play Champions League football, I have a feeling the worst is behind us. And times are looking up, even with the bitter pill of Kolejorz's disappointing defeat.

A little more patience and solid points accumulation are needed. Without a draw and with a secure place in the Champions League ranks based on the UEFA rankings, it will be all downhill.

Read also: The Polish player's match was suddenly interrupted. Disturbing news straight from the court. Read also: The Olympic champion has said enough. Terrible news about the Polish player's health.