If there’s one change at Barcelona this season, it’s that penalty kicks have been shared between Raphinha and Lamine Yamal. However, Robert Lewandowski’s absence during these crucial moments of matches has caught the attention of many fans.
However, contrary to what many thought, the striker himself broke his silence on the matter and clarified that it has nothing to do with his misses from the penalty spot.
Lewi reveals why he doesn’t take penalties for Barça
The 37-year-old Pole’s career and his impact on soccer after more than 15 years on the field are undisputed. However, his lethality from the penalty spot has also stood out, converting 89 of 101 attempts.
Despite this, Lewi hasn’t been as involved lately when it comes to taking these shots since he missed against Sevilla and Atlético Madrid, though he assured that this situation isn’t related to his misses:
“When a player sometimes plays and sometimes doesn’t, there’s a lack of confidence in key moments because you don’t feel the pitch, you’ve just come on, or you haven’t played in the last two or three games,” Lewandowski explained via Barca Blaugranes. “…I’m always ready, but there are times when you’ve spent less time on the pitch, you lack the feel and rhythm,” he said.
Robert added: “In those moments, it’s better to prioritize the team’s best interests, and someone who feels more confident in a given match takes the penalties. This wasn’t due to missed penalties, but to my situation and the minutes I spent on the pitch.”
As a result, other players like Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have taken the penalty kicks; they’ve also missed, but they’ve had more playing time. The former Bayern Munich player has played 1,950 minutes and started in five LaLiga matches since December.
Despite this, he has contributed 16 goals and 3 assists in 37 matches across all competitions this season, making it clear that his current situation on the team matters more than isolated mistakes and that he remains a key player for Barça, even as his role evolves based on the team’s needs and internal competition.
On the other hand, the forward admitted that he had a hard time getting used to playing with a protective face mask due to the bone fracture on the inner side of his left eye socket that he suffered in the match against Villarreal on February 28, and that he has to play with it for “two more weeks.”
Meanwhile, the Polish player’s contract with the Catalan club expires this summer, on June 30, and he still does not know whether he will continue playing here or not:
“My future? Nothing has changed regarding my contract with Barcelona. I’ll have time to sit down and think about the future and my options,” he told the press after arriving at the Polish national team’s training camp to prepare for the match against Albania.
This Thursday, the two teams will face off in the World Cup playoff semifinal, where they will try to secure their ticket to the world’s biggest soccer tournament.
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