The new La Liga season has brought a rather unusual situation for Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker has only played a total of 26 minutes across two matches for Barcelona so far.
He was on the pitch for 14 minutes during Barça’s 3-2 away win against Levante in the second week of the season, and then played just 12 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano.
Naturally, fans are starting to wonder how is it possible that a player of Lewandowski’s caliber hasn’t started a single match yet?
His absence in the season opener against Mallorca was due to injury. Since then, head coach Hansi Flick has opted to ease him back into action, bringing him on as a substitute in the following two games.
Against Rayo, Ferran Torres who’s been in great form was chosen to start up front. It’s a clear signal that Flick is prioritizing form and momentum over reputation.
Lewandowski, for his part, is staying calm.
“Let’s be honest, I was injured for two weeks. But the season has just started, and it’s a long one,” he told Mundo Deportivo.
For him, the early part of the season is all about building rhythm. He’s more focused on maintaining his fitness than chasing minutes.
“August is the perfect time to get into the rhythm. Everything really kicks off in September, so I know I need to stay relaxed and not rush anything,” he said.
The former Bayern Munich star also emphasized the importance of quality over quantity.
“I prefer to focus on quality rather than quantity. I’m also aware of how intense things are now, so we all need rest,” he added.
