Lewandowski opens Xavi's eyes

At 36, Lewandowski is still one of the best strikers in the world.

Barcelona went through a turbulent period at the end of last season, with rumours and uncertainty surrounding the future of coach Xavi Hernandez spreading everywhere. From his delayed decision to leave, to the controversial evening, to the surprise contract extension announcement, these developments have left many skeptical about Xavi’s ability to lead the team in the future.

Xavi's Theory

In particular, one of the most talked about issues is whether Barcelona can build a European-class team with a striker who has turned 36. Xavi, along with a large number of fans and experts, believes that Lewandowski is no longer the factor that can shoulder the responsibility of a big team like Barcelona.

Such thoughts are not without basis. Lewandowski is not young anymore and in a top team like Barcelona, ​​a striker of this age will face many challenges. He needs to be in good form, quick, and especially the ability to participate in pressing - something that Xavi highly values ​​in his playing style. Supposedly unable to continue to shoulder the responsibility of leading the team's attack, Lewandowski faces great skepticism from both the coaching staff and the fans.

But this season has proven a completely different story. With 40 goals in 40 games, Lewandowski has not only proven his worth, but has also completely disproved Xavi’s theory that a 36-year-old striker cannot build a big team. In the 2024/25 season, Lewandowski has shown his outstanding scoring ability, becoming a key factor in the change in Barcelona’s playing style under Hansi Flick.

Lewandowski's Barcelona are on fire.

What is less well known is that last summer, coach Flick had two important conversations with players he considered to be key to his Barcelona squad. The first was with Ilkay Gundogan, one of the key signings of the season. Flick told Gundogan straight away that he could not consider him part of the starting line-up if the player could not meet the pressing intensity he expected.

“He cannot compete with Fermin, Gavi or Olmo in terms of defensive involvement,” Flick said, a clear statement about how modern football requires players who are not only good at attacking but also have the ability to defend proactively.

The second conversation was with Lewandowski. Flick pointed out that in his system, Lewandowski is not the first to press, but if he does not work hard and does not participate in the defensive play, he will be dropped from the squad.

"If you don't run, you'll have to go, whether you have to confront Pini Zahavi (Lewandowski's agent) or not," Flick said bluntly. This was a clear warning that Lewandowski was no longer the team's number one star and he needed to change his playing style to integrate into the team's style of play.

But what happened after these warnings? Lewandowski responded strongly. Not only did he continue to score goals, but he also contributed greatly to Barcelona's overall play. Meanwhile, Gundogan left Barcelona.

The situation is reversed for Lewandowski

With 40 goals this season, Lewandowski has returned stronger than ever, not only proving his mettle but also dispelling doubts about his ability to lead a team. In fact, Lewandowski has become one of the most important players in Flick's tactics, proving that he can adapt and thrive, despite being underestimated from the outside.

Lewandowski plays an important role in Barcelona's attack.

One of the key factors that helped Lewandowski assert his worth was the change in Barcelona's playing style under Flick. Although maintaining the possession-based style, the German strategist helped Lewandowski maximize his ability as a main striker, while requiring him to participate in both attack and defense. Lewandowski is not just a striker, but also an indispensable part of the team's pressing system.

It can be seen that it is the challenges and pressures that help Lewandowski assert himself and continue to be a pillar of Barcelona. He not only scores goals but also becomes a model of a player who is always ready to change and learn to suit the team's tactics.

With an impressive 40 goals, Lewandowski has completely disproved Xavi's theory that it's impossible to build a big team around an aging striker. And for those who have doubted his ability, this season has been the clearest answer yet.

Early morning on April 10, Barcelona crushed Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. The night in Catalonia, Lewandowski scored a double. Witnessing what the Polish striker showed, Barcelona fans are probably very grateful to Flick for not listening to Xavi - that is, pushing Lewandowski out of the club. Because if that had happened, the situation of the Spanish giant would have been different.

Source: https://znews.vn/lewandowski-cho-xavi-sang-mat-post1544758.html