German coach Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s head coach, expressed his displeasure in a sharp tone regarding the behavior of Polish striker Robert Lewandowski when he was substituted during the match against Rayo Vallecano.
The match took place on Monday, February 17, at the Montjuïc Stadium as part of La Liga’s 24th round. Barcelona won the game 1-0, with Lewandowski scoring the only goal of the match in the 28th minute from a penalty awarded to Inigo Martinez.
In the 81st minute, coach Flick substituted Lewandowski, bringing on Ferran Torres in his place. The Polish striker showed his anger and dissatisfaction with the decision as he left the field.
During the press conference after the match, Flick was asked, “Lewandowski wasn’t happy after the substitution?”
He replied: “I think for him, it’s always about his desire to score goals and win, but in the end, this is my decision. I’m the one who decides what’s best for the team, not for individuals.”
He continued: “So, it’s not up to him. I always support him and always give him the chance to start matches, and I’m happy with his performance today because he scored a very important goal. But in the end, I make the decisions regarding substitutions, and the players must accept that.”
Lewandowski remains at the top of the La Liga scorers’ chart with 20 goals, 3 goals ahead of his closest competitor, Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid.