Robert Lewandowski has been one of many prime strikers of the twenty first century, and even at 37 he stays able to performing on the highest stage in Europe. However beneath head coach Hansi Flick, his function at Barcelona has been decreased. With solely two begins for the reason that starting of the 2025-26 season, the Polish ahead has spoken out about his present state of affairs on the membership.
The 2024-25 marketing campaign was Flick’s first in cost, and Lewandowski led the workforce in scoring with 42 targets in 52 matches, rating among the many most prolific strikers in Europe. This season, nonetheless, Barcelona have already performed seven video games, with Lewandowski that includes in six of them however incomes a spot within the beginning XI simply twice.
On Thursday, Lewandowski got here off the bench to attain the go-ahead objective in Barcelona’s comeback win over Actual Oviedo. Afterward, he mirrored on his sluggish begin to the season. “On the finish of preseason I picked up an damage, and initially it was tougher — I wanted extra time to seek out rhythm,” the participant admitted whereas talking to DAZN after the 3-1 win.
The veteran striker harassed that there’s no urgency for him to pressure his manner into the lineup, pointing to the workforce’s depth as a key benefit: “I’ve persistence, there’s no rush, the season may be very lengthy and I wish to play each time I’m at one hundred pc. I really feel superb now, and for the workforce it’s additionally necessary to have all of the gamers obtainable.”
Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his sides second objective with teammates through the LaLiga EA Sports activities match between Actual Oviedo and FC Barcelona.
Lewandowski’s hamstring damage, suffered in preseason, stored him out of the Joan Gamper Trophy towards Como and the La Liga opener towards Mallorca. Since then, Flick has restricted his begins to only two — towards Newcastle United within the UEFA Champions League and towards Getafe in league play.
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The Getafe recreation stays the one one wherein Lewandowski has accomplished the complete 90 minutes, an indication that his health is enhancing. In 233 minutes throughout six appearances, he’s averaging slightly below 39 minutes per recreation, however his three targets already underline his continued worth as a dependable scoring choice for Barcelona.
Lewandowski and his relationship with Flick
Flick beforehand coached Lewandowski at Bayern Munich from 2019 to 2021, a interval that included a historic treble with the striker once more enjoying a pivotal function. At Barcelona, the German supervisor has to date restricted his minutes however stays totally conscious of the influence the veteran can present.
In opposition to Oviedo, Flick made the decisive name to switch Raphinha with Lewandowski, who described the second afterward. “I simply did what I at all times do,” he stated with fun. “Hansi didn’t ask me for something particular. Each three days you have got a match, so now we have to handle all of the minutes and know easy methods to rotate. If we win, we are able to say we’ve finished issues the correct manner.”
