Mila chases glory on two fronts at Śląsk

WKS Śląsk Wrocław lead the Polish table at the winter break and captain Sebastian Mila is hoping that he can shine for the club and then the national team at the Municipal Stadium, venue for one Poland game at UEFA EURO 2012 in June.

Śląsk sit four points clear of Legia Warszawa at the summit, with midfielder Mila – last season's Ekstraklasa player of the year – eager to improve on 2011/12's second-placed finish. "I know we are not as well-known abroad as Legia, Lech or Wisła but our ambition is to become the fourth big power in the Polish league," the 29-year-old told UEFA.com.

Śląsk have not won the title since 1977, five years before Mila was born, but the club are not trading on past glories. "I have never seen any trophies or medals at the club to commemorate that success," Mila said. "There are some cups behind glass, but the officials at Śląsk have assured me that there is plenty of room for a new trophy if we manage to win one."

The team must hold their nerve for 13 more games to get that prize. "Metaphorically speaking, I wish we had special car which would drive us quickly through these final miles to the title," said Mila. "Maybe we already have it? Now it is just question of putting quality fuel into it. That's our goal during the two training camps which lie ahead."

What form that metaphorical fuel might take, however, is likely to remain a mystery. "I cannot tell you how we are going to do it," joked Mila. "I will not give our formula away, even to UEFA.com. It is like Coca-Cola – no-one from outside the firm can know the recipe."

The individual ingredients may be a secret, but one of them is surely the club's new home; Śląsk have played at the Municipal Arena since 28 October, which will host Poland's final UEFA EURO 2012 group stage game against the Czech Republic. For Mila, capped 29 times by Poland, the venue has been an eye-opener and a glimpse of what might be to come in the finals in June.

"We visited the stadium a lot while it was under construction and then had the honour of playing in the first match here," remembered Mila, back in the national team after a five-year absence. "The first two games were sold out; it's an enormous pleasure to play in front of 43,000 fans. It would be tremendous if I get to play here against the Czech Republic."

Winning the title with Śląsk would strengthen his case for a finals place, but asked whether he would rather have that league crown or a UEFA EURO 2012 chance, Mila could not decide. "It's like choosing between your mother and your wife," he said. "You cannot choose one – you want them both. I cannot pick between these goals, so I will do my best to realise both."