Robert Lewandowski slammed Bayern Munich’s management for leaving him with “no protection” earlier in the year but said the club’s supporters convinced him to stay.
The 30-year-old striker reflected on the reaction to his failure to score as Bayern were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid in last season’s semi-final, and said the club failed to defend him against criticism.
Lewandowski has since bounced back, scoring four goals in Bayern’s first two competitive games of the 2018-19 season, but he was unreserved in his comments about the club’s handling of him.
“In April, May everyone criticised me,” Lewandowski told Sport Bild. “And I felt no protection from the club, felt alone.
“I scored no goals in two or three important games and suddenly everyone was saying: open fire against Lewandowski!
“I did not feel well in Munich in those moments. In this time it did not fit anymore.”
A hat-trick in Bayern’s 5-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFL-Supercup silenced Lewandowski’s critics, and he followed that up with the winning goal in a 1-0 defeat of Drochtersen/Assel in the DFB-Pokal.
He said it was the support of the club’s fans, rather than its management, that ensured he remains a Bayern player and strengthened his resolve to stay.
“I noticed in Munich that the fans support me,” said the Poland international. “I realised that they still want me here.
“I will never strike, never mess with the club.
“I’m not wasting any thought on another club now.”
An accurate and efficient finisher with his head and both feet, Lewandowski is a prolific goalscorer who is regarded by pundits as one of the best strikers in the modern game; a well-rounded forward, he is said to possess almost all the necessary qualities of a traditional number nine: height, strength, balance, pace, intelligent movement and proficiency with both feet.
Although he primarily operates as a goal-poacher in the penalty area, due to his positional sense, ability to shoot first time, and strength in the air, his excellent technical skills, quick feet, vision, and physique also enable him to hold up the ball with his back to goal and either bring his teammates into play, or win fouls for his team in useful positions; despite often functioning as a lone-centre forward or as an out-and-out striker.
He has also stood out for his work-rate and defensive contribution off the ball, and is capable of dropping into deeper roles on the pitch, in order to create space for teammates with his movement, or surprise defenders by making late and sudden attacking runs into the area. In addition to his playing ability, Lewandowski has also been praised for his outstanding work-ethic, fitness, mentality, and discipline, both on the pitch and in training, by pundits, players and managers