Robert Lewandowski lately turned 37 years outdated, and later tonight, he may very well be making his after they tackle Valencia at Estadi Johan Cruyff.
Along with his contract expiring in 2026, there’s a perception that the veteran centre-forward may very well be .
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The striker lately sat down for an interview with , throughout which he mentioned his future, amongst different issues, together with his Barça teammate Lamine Yamal and his relationship with younger abilities on the membership.
On what’s subsequent for Lewandowski
Discussing his future and what lies forward for himself, Lewandowski mentioned he has “two or three extra years at a great stage.”
The Poland captain insisted that he feels sharp and match, and that regardless of being 37, he doesn’t really feel that he’s on the decline.
“I really feel very robust,” he mentioned. “In case you see on paper what I do within the coaching periods, the bodily assessments, I’m at the same stage to what I used to be earlier than.
“Many individuals make that mistake about me, that at 37 I’m going down. Nonetheless, I do know I could be on the highest, and bodily I don’t see or really feel I’ve to catch the younger gamers. The alternative. They must catch me.”
On Lamine Yamal
All through his profession, Lewandowski has performed with prime younger abilities, be it at Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, or now at Barcelona.
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However the striker claimed that he had by no means seen somebody like Lamine Yamal, who made a giant impression on the veteran from his first coaching session on the age of 15.
“I noticed it within the first coaching session, Lamine was 15 years outdated,” Lewandowski mentioned. “It was the top of the season, and a few gamers have been making an attempt [out]. He was taking part in towards an skilled left again, and he did no matter he wished towards him.
“I’ve seen quite a lot of good gamers, however they wanted time. With Lamine, I noticed one thing that didn’t want time. I’ve by no means seen that expertise at that age.”
Requested what recommendation he offers Yamal, Lewandowski mentioned: “The massive problem for him might be not subsequent yr, or the yr after, however three years and even later, to seek out the psychological issues to nonetheless be hungry.”
Lewandowski is amazed by Lamine. (Picture by Angel Martinez/Getty Photographs)
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“It’s not his fault how the world seems to be now, however for him it may be powerful to maintain this sense of how he performs within the backyard, with the expectation, the eye on social media. You have got so many video games, it’s so intense.
“No one at this age in ten or 15 years can hold the sensation that Lamine has. Even 5 per cent much less in 5 years means you’ll be able to’t deal with it. I’ve doubts that if you begin taking part in at 16 now, you’ll be able to play 20 years on the prime stage.”
On the present crop of kids
It have to be famous that there have been reviews of some minor points between Lewandowski and Lamine early on, and the striker chalks it as much as the distinction between generations and the way the present crop of kids don’t wish to be ‘shouted at’.
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Explaining intimately about how his relationship with the membership’s kids is and the way he offers with them, Lewandowski mentioned:
“I’ve to say it was an enormous problem. I used to be coming from a unique era, and I needed to learn to, not assume like a young person, however assume how I can attempt to take one of the best of what they’ve.
“I’ve been in soccer for 4 a long time so once I evaluate them, not even to my era however the era earlier than me, once I was beginning, it’s utterly completely different.”
Persevering with, he added: “Like shouting was once a method to encourage everybody. Now, when you shout an excessive amount of, this era, their response is just not the identical. It’s not, ‘now I’ll present you’re incorrect’.
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“No, now you must clarify one other approach. It’s a must to do a lot of speaking. They don’t like being shouted at. Now you must take extra of the psychological a part of soccer. It’s not simply gamers, it’s folks, it’s this era. I didn’t wish to combat it. I needed to be taught.”
On the UEFA Champions League
Barcelona have made it abundantly clear that profitable the UEFA Champions League is the last word objective for the crew this season, particularly after final season’s disappointment, after they have been eradicated from the competitors on the semi-final levels by Inter Milan.
“I believe if we performed within the ultimate we might have had an enormous probability to win this Champions League. However that’s soccer. You’ll be able to miss the final step,” Lewandowski mentioned, reflecting on the UCL defeat.
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Waiting for the brand new season, he included Barcelona among the many contenders to elevate the trophy in Budapest on 30 Might and dismissed the notion that Premier League groups are those to beat as a consequence of their heavy spending.
“They’re among the many favourites as properly however you continue to have Actual Madrid, Barcelona, PSG… within the Premier League, they pay lots. You see the gamers they’re shopping for for giant costs when gamers don’t even have one good season,” he mentioned.
“You might be younger, you rating ten objectives in six months and a few membership pays 60 or 70 million. Earlier than, you needed to obtain one thing. However you by no means know if the value they pay brings the standard they need.”
Barcelona will in truth start their Champions League marketing campaign subsequent Thursday at St James’ Park towards Newcastle United.
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Curiously, Lewandowski has a private hyperlink with the Premier League membership going again to his childhood in Poland.
“After I was rising up, I keep in mind I had the jersey of Newcastle, with Shearer No. 9 on the again,” he mentioned.
“It was a household current and I wore it lots as a result of on the time he was proper on the highest. In fact, I did the celebration as properly, it was distinctive.”