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Robert Lewandowski has been by far the biggest beneficiary of Hansi Flick’s arrival at Barcelona.
After a tumultuous 2023/24 campaign under Xavi Hernandez, the Pole is back to his best form this season, racking up ten La Liga goals in just nine matches.
Lewandowski’s hat-trick in the recent win over Deportivo Alaves helped him widen the gap in the race for the Pichichi trophy, with the veteran forward easily emerging as one of the best-performing players in Europe this season.
Lewandowski on his form
As Lewandowski gears up for international duty, the forward talked about various topics in a recent press conference, including his blazing form under Flick.
“Personally, I don’t think what I’m doing this season is surprising. In fact, I think it’s getting harder to surprise you, but it seems like I’m still able to do it, which is nice,” Lewandowski said about his form.
“For me, individual improvement comes from collective improvement. The team is performing well and we are scoring a lot of goals, which makes us all look better. Working as part of this team contributes to my personal improvement,” he added.
Lewandowski went on to suggest that he started feeling better during the second half of last season.
“There were moments in the second half of last season when I felt I was getting back to my best, and I’ve been thinking about improving since then,” he said.
Lewandowski is in red hot form right now (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
“At the end of last season and the beginning of this season, I made changes in some aspects of my game and coaching style. We now have a lot of young players in the team, they are very talented, and I think it is my duty to help them reach their full potential,” he added.
The Polish international also showcased his sarcasm when asked to point out three reasons behind his success this season.
“My name is Robert, I play for Barcelona, I attack and I score goals,” he replied. Lewandowski was also asked about who the best player in the world is right now.
“Who are you waiting for? Do you want me to be the best player? You can choose, no problem. My opinion doesn’t matter. Thank you,” he replied.
Talking about Barcelona, the forward said, “I am happy to be part of this team. We have performed well, but the season is still early and we have not won anything yet.
“At the end of the season, there will be time to reflect on what we have achieved, but for now I am focused on doing my best and taking advantage of the support and confidence I have.”
Lewandowski on Hansi Flick
Lewandowski also talked about the changes made by Flick since taking charge and how it has impacted Barcelona positively.
“We all as a team are showing better on the pitch, and I think that gives me more chances and passes,” he said. “Also, the performance level of my teammates seems good and every player shows his true potential on the field.”
“In yesterday’s match, and specifically the second goal, it was a great example of teamwork in football, in terms of precise passes and movements before shooting,” he added.
Talking about Barcelona’s progress so far this season, especially ahead of a difficult set of fixtures after the international break.
“We are at an important stage of the season and we know that we have difficult matches ahead of us after the international break, so we are trying to maintain our focus and progress steadily,” he said.
Barcelona are indeed gearing up for a tough set of fixtures after the break, starting with a game against Sevilla, which will be followed by clashes with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
“We realize that the season is long, and we try to continue working and focusing to improve our performance.
“We have gone through many challenges and injuries, and some players can return after the break, and this will enhance our strength and give us more options. The last matches were very intense, and the rest time between matches was short,” he added.
Lewandowski on Ronaldo
Lewandowski’s statements come just before Poland’s upcoming contest against Portugal, where the Barcelona forward will be taking on Cristiano Ronaldo.
“When I prepare for a match like against Portugal, I only think about the strength of the team as a whole, not just one player,” he said when asked about the opposition.
“I fully understand what Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved throughout his career, and how he has impacted the history of football with his achievements and numbers. This will certainly remain engraved in history.
Lewandowski has utmost respect for Cristiano (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
“But when it comes to the match, I see it as a match between two teams, and we will need to play as a team to stand up to Portugal. They have many great players who I have faced before, and I know very well the level of challenge we will face,” he added.
Lewandowski, though, did not forget to heap praise on Ronaldo and acknowledge his legacy in the footballing world.
“As for Cristiano, he has written many pages of history and has always raised the bar for everyone around him, and this is something that cannot be overlooked,” he said.
Lewandowski went on to speak at length about Ronaldo, praising the Portuguese international for his hunger for success, even at the age of 39.
“Although he has achieved everything or almost everything, and he is 39 years old and approaching 40, it is clear that he has ambition, as he gets angry and nervous, and this shows his great ambition.
“I think if he didn’t have that anger, he might have looked like he was just playing for the sake of playing. But he clearly still has the desire, and he looks physically in very good shape, which shows that the path he chose was successful.
“Regardless of age, his numbers keep going up and not the other way around. Of course, he is an exception and there are very few exceptions like him,” he said.
Finally, Lewandowski was asked about Wojciech Szczesny, knowing the Pole had played a key role in convincing his compatriot to come out of retirement to play for Barcelona.
“Szczesny told me the only club he would come out of retirement for is Barcelona,” he revealed when asked about the former Arsenal goalkeeper.
Source: Meczyki.pl
