No cheers despite the record: the ghosts that plague Robert Lewandowski

No cheers despite the record
The ghosts that plague Robert Lewandowski

By Stephan Uersfeld

Robert Lewandowski is a phenomenon. He breaks all records, wins all titles, but may lose joy along the way. The 33-year-old Pole can no longer even celebrate his latest entry in the history books. That could also have something to do with Erling Haaland.

Another game for the history books and still somehow unhappy. It is currently not easy to be Robert Lewandowski. In the Bundesliga, his hits are now normal, as are the daily corona reports and his records are a nice accessory for a career that, despite all the titles and all personal trophies, currently seems strangely unsatisfactory. Internationally, he is still in the shadow of the big stars Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar, who also have more glamor off the pitch. The goal machine of FC Bayern Munich continues to go, no matter how hard he tries. In addition, rumors about Erling Haaland, who will replace him at Bayern and sometimes snatch his contract from Real Madrid, are annoying.

What happened? With his goals in the 5-0 in Stuttgart, the 33-year-old Lewandowski screwed his goal account in the calendar year to 42, as many as Gerd Müller had scored in 1972. And the Pole has one more game against VfL Wolfsburg, one of his favorite opponents, against whom he one day scored five goals in just nine historic minutes. But Lewandowski didn’t want to be really happy. He barely cheered, turned and went on playing. In spite of the record, it was once again a game as it has often been seen under the new coach Julian Nagelsmann. The Pole is no longer the linchpin of the offensive, is only part of the collective. Which doesn’t prevent him from scoring his goals, because nothing can stop him from doing that.

Record breaker Lewandowski was little to see until his first hit. Again and again he let himself fall back deep into midfield, wanted to get the balls from there, hardly got any action. Then the two gates. But the big stage that evening in the Stuttgart stadium clearly belonged to Serge Gnabry, who, in addition to his three goals, also played the Lewy double. “I’ve set myself a lot after I haven’t had so much time recently. I was motivated that it would be a game like this, I wouldn’t have dreamed of it,” said the international, who made his first start in his home town has conjured up an amazing show in the deserted stadium since matchday 12.

What happens after the season?

Gnabry stole the headlines from Lewandowski and the next day it was Erling Haaland again who was annoying with his name. According to a report by “Sport Bild”, he should now be on the Bavarian list and maybe move from the Emscher to the Isar in the summer. If the Bavarians should not agree on a new contract with the Pole. Currently tied to the record champions until 2023, talks are to take place in the spring. With them, the Pole will hardly go below the 24 million euros per season that he currently earns according to ntv.de information. Perhaps too much for a striker slowly turning into the home stretch of his career.

Nagelsmann, Lewandowski and Haaland.

(Photo: picture alliance / dpa)

Haaland comes in at the right time, and so does Mino Raiola, the Norwegian’s advisor. In the past few weeks he had included Bayern in the exclusive circle of the four clubs that his client would consider for the coming summer. And when Raiola says something, he doesn’t say it for nothing. Hardly anyone masters the transfer business like he does. Hardly anyone knows how to press which buttons and when to get the best possible offer for their clients. The great Zlatan Ibrahimovic wrote a book about it.

Haaland is on everyone’s lips in the transfer market, this major area of ​​football. Somehow Lewandowski too, but mostly only as a decorative accessory. Again and again the Pole was on the verge of a transfer to Real Madrid. He was already being traded there during his days in Dortmund, the interest had never died, but this door may close very slowly. According to Spanish media reports, the Spanish giant has focused on Haaland. That is the top priority in the endeavors. Another setback for Lewandowski, who would love to be loved so much, who always receives only respect for his achievements outside of the Munich cosmos.

Bavaria can only lose

So maybe Lewandowski only realized in Stuttgart how hopeless it all is. The thing about his longing for recognition and maybe also the thing about the Bundesliga. The 5-0 win in Stuttgart was Bavaria’s fifth win of the season with five or more goals scored. The record champions have already scored 52 goals after 16 match days and have long outstripped the rest of the league in this category as well. The Polish striker scored 18 goals alone. Bavaria is storming towards a new record here too. The previous Bundesliga record for a season is 101 goals, set by Bayern’s 1971/1972 team.

For those who are hoping for excitement from the league, a look at the Bundesliga table shortly before the Christmas break is even more sad. In front Bayern, behind with a good margin BVB, maybe Bayer Leverkusen and then, if you want to put it broadly, a midfield that extends to the relegation ranks. Between fourth place, Hoffenheim, and 16th place, Augsburg, there are only ten points ahead of today’s games. So a couple of wins.

But none of that counts for Bayern. You can almost only lose this season. Out of the cup, outrun the rest of the Bundesliga and one of the top favorites internationally in the Champions League. Anything but the tenth championship title in a row would be a disaster for the club, the Champions League trophy the crowning glory, but still a long way off. The pressure weighs heavily on the giants from the south, who after a not at all sovereign first half of the season still deserve a lot and can call autumn champions early on.

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