Lewandowski Expresses Betrayal By Coach Probierz After Losing Poland Captaincy

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Robert Lewandowski has announced his decision to step back from international football, citing a breach of trust with Poland's head coach, Michal Probierz. The 36-year-old, who holds the record for most goals and appearances for Poland, stated he would not represent his country while Probierz remains in charge. Lewandowski mentioned both physical and mental exhaustion as reasons for his decision during the current international window.

The situation escalated after Lewandowski was unexpectedly stripped of the captaincy. He expressed disappointment over how the matter was handled, noting that he received a surprise call from Probierz informing him of the decision while he was putting his children to bed. "I got a surprise call from Probierz with the information that he had decided to take away the armband," Lewandowski said in an interview with Sportowe Fakty on Monday.

Lewandowski revealed that the conversation lasted only a few minutes, leaving him no time to inform his family before it became public knowledge online. Having worn the captain's armband for 11 years and played for the national team for 17 years, he felt such matters should be addressed differently. "Everything was communicated over the phone. It really shouldn’t be like this," he added.

The decision came amid criticism in Polish media regarding Lewandowski's absence from matches against Moldova and Finland this month. Despite playing 52 times under Hansi Flick at Barcelona and scoring 42 goals to help secure three trophies, including La Liga, Probierz replaced him as captain with Piotr Zielinski for upcoming fixtures.

Lewandowski clarified that his issue wasn't about losing the captaincy but rather how it was communicated. "It's not even about the decision regarding the armband, but the way it was communicated to me," he stated. He expressed confidence in Zielinski's leadership and believed media pressure influenced Probierz's actions.

The striker explained that their agreement about him taking a break was mutual. "The decision that I wouldn’t come to the training camp was made together with the coach," he said. Lewandowski contacted Probierz to discuss resting, which Probierz supported and even considered suggesting himself.

Future Considerations

With one year left on his Barcelona contract, Lewandowski hinted that things might have been different if Probierz had managed the situation better. When asked about returning to play for Poland, he said, "I want to sit down and think about it all calmly." He needs time to reflect before deciding on future involvement with the national team.

Despite current feelings of regret and anger, Lewandowski emphasized his enduring commitment to Poland's national team. "I have always cared a lot about the national team," he affirmed, indicating that his dedication remains unchanged despite recent events.