"They won't find anyone better."Robert Lewandowski isn't fazed by the criticisms pointing to him liable for Barça's crisis.
The Best Scorer in Spain and Europe
Despite all the criticism, Lewandowski boasts a scoring record that no one can match, neither in Spain nor in Europe.
He leads the Pichichi, with 5 goals ahead of his teammate Raphinha and 6 ahead of Mbappé. Also the Golden Boot, with 2 points ahead of Mohamed Salah and 4 ahead of Harry Kane.
He's the best scorer in Spain and Europe. He doesn't understand why he's questioned at Barçaand singled out as the sole responsible for Flick's team's game crisis.
Lewandowski is calm. His mission at Barça is to score goals and he's scored more than anyone else in Spain and Europe.
Lewandowski Ends the Year with 40 Goals
It's true that he scored 14 goals in the first 11 matches but barely managed two in the last eight. However, the life of a center-forward is marked by streaks and he's confident he'll be back on track with scoring.
TODOS los GOLES de LEWANDOWSKI esta temporada 2024/25
The Polish forward regrets the lack of memory that Barça's environment has with him. Without his goals, it would've been impossible to reach November in the privileged position Flick's team experienced.
Moreover, Lewandowski ends the year with 40 goals scored, many more than the rest of the forwards (Raphinha: 24; Yamal: 12). It's the figure expected of him and he hasn't disappointed. The team's dysfunction isn't solely his fault.
At 36, he scored 14 goals in 11 matches and at 36 he's stuck at two in the last eight. The player doesn't believe age has anything to do with his successes or failures.
Flick Isn't Satisfied with His Tactical Performance
Another matter is that Flick, who had him under his command at Bayern, isn't satisfied with his tactical performance. Neither he nor his teammates are convinced by his permissiveness in collective pressure.
Raphinha and Yamal run more kilometers than anyone starting the pressure. Lewandowski just watches.
Flick has punished him: benched in Mallorca and substituted against Betis, Dortmund, and Leganés.
He's the Highest-paid
Looming over Lewandowski is the sword of Damocles of his high salary. In his first season, he earned 10 million net; in the second, it was 13. This season he'll earn 16.
Next year it will be 13, according to SER. Will Lewandowski make it to the next season at Barça? If he plays 55% of the matches, for sure. That's more than assured in his contract.
Laporta, Flick, and his teammates would like to see Lewandowski out of Barça. However, they'll have to keep enduring or enjoying him for another year. That's the commitment Laporta made with him.
If now 36 years is a drawback, next year he'll be 37. Flick doesn't want substitutes at a premium price on the bench, but that was Laporta's wish when he signed him three years ago.
As of today, there's no other forward in the world that guarantees his scoring production. That's what Lewandowski clings to in order to stay another year at Barça.