Hansi Flick hails ‘unbelievable’ Robert Lewandowski after 100th Champions League strike
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Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring against Brest in the Champions League.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
BARCELONA – Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Robert Lewandowski’s goalscoring feats were “unbelievable”, after the striker passed a century of Champions League goals on Nov 26.
The 36-year-old rolled home an early penalty in the 3-0 win over Brest to reach the milestone, adding a second late on with a tidy finish to complete the victory, which took them provisionally second in the standings.
Lewandowski is only the third player to reach a century of goals in the competition, behind all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo (140 in 183 games) and Lionel Messi (129 in 163 games).
“I’m not so good at statistics, I think after Messi and Ronaldo he’s in third place now with the most goals, and it’s unbelievable,” said Flick.
“I know him two years from (Bayern) Munich. There, he also broke every record you can break and now he’s also scoring... it’s important for us.”
The Poland international was clattered into by Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot for the spot kick, which he converted clinically to put Barca ahead after 10 minutes.
Lewandowski then sealed victory, following Dani Olmo’s goal, with a well-taken second in stoppage time, manoeuvring well in the box before rolling home.
The striker’s 101 Champions League strikes have come in 125 appearances in the competition, for Borussia Dortmund, Bayern and Barcelona.
“I am very happy. Many years ago, I did not think I could score more than 100 goals in the Champions League,” Lewandowski told Movistar.
Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain great Messi hit his 100th Champions League goal in 123 games, while former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus star Ronaldo’s came after 144 games. Lewandowski has won the Champions League once, with Bayern in 2020, as well as finishing a runner-up with Dortmund in 2013.
Under Flick, the veteran forward’s form has improved significantly this season – reaching 22 goals in 19 appearances in La Liga and Europe.
Flick, meanwhile, also praised his other players as they bounced back from consecutive La Liga disappointments with what he described as a great performance to thump French side Brest.
The German had admitted that his side’s recent form was a major worry after they failed to win for a second successive La Liga game, but he was delighted with how his players responded.
“Very happy. We deserved it, winning by three goals but we could have scored more,” he said.
“But I’m happy either way because delivering a performance like this after (a 2-2 draw at Celta) Vigo (on Nov 23) is just great.” AFP, REUTERS
