Robert Lewandowski’s agent Maik Barthel called recent criticism of his client “weird and unfair” after Bayern Munich’s Champions League exit was laid at the feet of the Poland striker by some club legends.
Barthel told SportBild: “You can always criticise players, but this way is out of order. Robert has twice scored 30 [goals] and once 29 goals in the Bundesliga and is then held responsible for the exit against Real Madrid. That’s a strange perception.
“It is weird and unfair that so-called experts pin the blame for the exit against Real Madrid on just one player.
“In the past three seasons, he’s been playing with a handicap in the Champions League.”
Lewandowski came under fire at Bayern after failing to score in five successive Champions League games, including both legs of the narrow 4-3 aggregate semifinal defeat against the holders.
He then denied coach Jupp Heynckes a handshake following his substitution in the 3-1 win against Cologne.
In the aftermath of Bayern’s fourth semifinal exit in five seasons, club legends Sepp Maier, Oliver Kahn and Paul Breitner have all been critical of Bayern’s top scorer for his lack of goals in the big games.
Maier asked: “Nobody saw him — where was he in the two games?”
“I don’t see Lewandowski enough in these games,” Kahn said on ZDF. “He doesn’t justify the status that he desires in such games.”
Breitner said: “It is said that Bayern need Lewandowski in order to win the Champions League so we have to state that we were twice clearly better than Real Madrid and twice played sensationally — without Lewandowski.”
According to the SportBild story, Lewandowski could still leave Bayern despite Real reportedly pulling out of preliminary talks over a transfer. PSG are a possible destination with his other agent Pini Zahavi eager to broker a deal, while Chelsea and Manchester United have previously been linked.
Lewandowski has an agreement in place with Zahavi until the end of the summer transfer window.
Mark Lovell covers Bayern Munich for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter: @LovellLowdown.
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