Flick Defends His Star Striker

Ahead of FC Barcelona’s clash against Girona, head coach Hansi Flick spoke to the media about Robert Lewandowski’s physical condition following an incident during Poland’s match in Lithuania. Despite feeling discomfort, the Polish forward decided to continue playing with his leg bandaged — a decision that sparked debate about whether he should have been substituted.

“Robert told me the same thing he told his national team coach. He felt fine and didn’t notice any pain,” explained Flick, playing down the situation. “We know these things can happen during international breaks. It’s not easy for players — the travel, the matches, the award ceremonies. For example, Raphinha is one of our most important players and we’ve missed him as well. We just have to manage everything properly.”

The German coach emphasized his full confidence in his striker’s judgment and professionalism: “There isn’t a player who takes better care of his body than Robert Lewandowski. He told me he didn’t think he was injured, and I believe him. At his age, maybe only Cristiano Ronaldo is in comparable physical condition.”

Barcelona’s Ongoing Challenge With International Breaks

FC Barcelona has been dealing with several injury concerns in recent weeks, many of them stemming from international duty. The packed schedule has forced Flick to constantly rotate his lineup and manage workloads carefully.

“The schedule is demanding,” acknowledged the coach. “Players travel long distances, play intense games, and have commercial commitments on top of that. It’s tough on them. Each one has to know when to push and when to rest, but with Robert, I completely trust his experience and his understanding of his own body.”

Lewandowski, a Model of Professionalism

Since joining Barcelona, Lewandowski has stood out not only for his goals but also for his unmatched professionalism and work ethic. Even at 37, his competitive drive remains intact. “It’s unfortunate he’s unavailable right now, but he’ll come back stronger. He’s a role model for our younger players,” said Flick.

With a crucial match against Girona and the upcoming Clásico on the horizon, Barcelona is hopeful of having its star striker back soon.