Before FC Bayern Munich’s home game against Union Berlin on Saturday evening, sports director Hasan Salihamidzic and coach Julian Nagelsmann commented on the status of negotiations with striker Robert Lewandowski. Meanwhile, Lothar Matthäus defended his criticism of the record champions.
In the pre-game coverage sky Nagelsmann said of his top striker: “I think he wants to play for Bayern and I assume he’ll stay. I haven’t heard anything to the contrary.”
The contract of the Pole runs until the summer of 2023, talks about an extension have not yet been confirmed by either party. However, Nagelsmann emphasized that Lewandowski had “never signaled in talks that he no longer wanted to come here.”
Salihamidzic explained that he saw Lewandowski “very concentrated. Lewa is a full professional and fits in perfectly with us.” However, he did not want to give a water level for possible talks: “Basically we have our plans, which unfortunately I cannot tell you. We go our way and will do our job.”
In this context, Salihamidzic pointed out the ongoing loss of income due to the corona pandemic: “We still don’t have a full stadium. It’s a difficult phase.” You have to make sure “that the qualities in the team and the economic components fit together. Nobody doubts that we will try everything.”
Matthäus on Kahn’s criticism: “More insight than Oliver gives me credit for”
skyExpert Matthäus had recently criticized Bayern’s behavior with regard to Lewandowski several times – and had been dismissed by Oliver Kahn as a “headline supplier” who had never managed a club. “I have 40 years of Bundesliga experience, international experience and know how a club works. Maybe not inside out, but I’ve also had jobs where I was responsible for transfers and sales,” said Matthäus. “I think I have a little more insight than Oliver gives me credit for.”
He doesn’t have any inside views, but he’s been “in this business for so long that I’ve noticed a few things and can get an idea,” emphasized Matthäus. Salihamidzic said FC Bayern had no problem with criticism, but did not want this discussion to take place in the media: “We hope it doesn’t get personal.”
