Robert Lewandowski is one of the most questioned and criticized players as a result of the poor form of Xavi Hernandez’s FC Barcelona. What is most worrying about the polish striker is not his statistics related to goal scoring, but his role and lack of brilliance in Barça’s current scheme.
At 35 years of age, Lewandowski is very far from the ferocious forward that once deserved to win the Ballon d’Or. The once best striker in the world who mesmerized the world during his time at Bayern and Borussia Dortmund. The man who also won the Golden Boot in the 20/21 season and scored 55 goals in the 19/20 campaign.
After joining Barcelona last season, he became LaLiga’s top scorer after recording 32 goals, also becoming one of the best players in the roster in the process. But, what is going on this season?
It surely has to do with the fact that Barça’s current campaign is far from being outstanding as, for the most part, they have had really poor showings.
Robert Lewandowski, who is having a hard time connecting with his teammates on the field, has displayed a strikingly poor level, very little participation and barely any success. Often times he seems disengaged, is late to press and misses chances we would have never imagined.
I am not the only one to have noticed this. FC Barcelona’s front office decided to increase the competition up front and awake the Polishman by advancing the arrival of Vitor Roque instead of signing a midfielder to replace Gavi after his severe injury.
The truth, which Lewandowski has spoken on before, is that he is not comfortable with the team’s playstyle, as it involves him very little. In fact, he is visibly frustrated and has had a few clashes with his teammates while on the pitch.
The physical condition of Lewandowski no longer allows him to play the way he used to. He has never liked to be a targetman in the box, but to participate in the build-up play, create chances for himself through constant movement and, on ocassion, start off from the wing to finish up the play on the center.
But this year, Barça are struggling to destabilize the opposing defenses, and Lewandowski, whose physical decline is obvious, is always a little late. His conditioning is not on the level it needs to be anymore, and a second is critical for a striker.
As a result, Barça, a team notorious for getting the ball back in the opponent’s pitch (now more important than ever as they lack a defensive and physical sweeper), are noticing the absence of a first line of pressure commanded by Lewandowski, who now has to regulate his stamina thoroughly.
From the start, we knew the magnitude of the risk that Barça were taking on when signing Lewansowski to such a hefty contract at this point in his career. However, we did not expect his decrease in performance that Barça and Xavi have to find a solution for.
Perhaps creating an environment that benefits the Polish striker (which seems like the most logical solution when taking into account his salary and the duration of his contract) or maybe betting big on Vitor Roque to pressure Robert into finding a new destination or accepting a backup role, a scenario that seems very unlikely.
Translated by Nuño Alonso.
Main image: @FCBarcelona.
At ELXIIDEAL we have a great opportunity to advertise your business via our website and social media network.
