PLAYERS LOOK FOR ASSURANCES
Bayern Munich head coach Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed the claims of Robert Lewandowski’s agent Maik Barthel that the club did not do enough to support the striker in his golden boot award chase, whilst also heading off trouble from Joshua Kimmich, who is also looking for assurances that he remains a key player for the club ahead of the 2017/18 season.
Lewandowski was widely expected to clinch the award on the final day of the season after netting 30 goals in the Bundesliga. However, his rival Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre Emerick Aubameyang stole the crown on the final day. The former Borussia Dortmund star was disappointed with how it happened, and admitted as much when he said: “It does not hurt anymore, but it did at first. Maybe because I was not completely satisfied with the way my team helped me. Immediately after the last game, I felt anger. I was disappointed with my team.”
The player’s agent escalated the situation when he said his client felt the club did not love him after the incident. Barthel’s comments seemed to be an invitation to top sides to bid for the player as he seemed unsettled at Bayern. Whilst the odds on him playing eleswhere next season dropped on https://sport.netbet.co.uk/football/, in all likelihood he will be staying with Bayern.
Ancelotti had to wade in to dismiss such claims, adding that agents talk too much. “As always there are agents who talk too much – I do not know why. It is not the first time an agent has used the newspapers to say something wrong; that’s all. In a perfect world, agents do not talk,” the top Italian manager quipped.
Chelsea have already submitted a bid for the striker, according to sources in Poland. It remains very ambitious for the Premier League champions as Bayern are never the selling side, no matter the price on offer. Lewandowski is one of the best natural strikers in the world. The experienced forward is a lethal finisher, scoring with any part of his body from different areas of the pitch. He would break records if he decides to exit Bayern – a thing the club cannot afford to allow.
Meanwhile, fellow Bayern player Joshua Kimmich says he is happy to be at the German side but adds that he needs assurances for him to remain at the club. Since Carlo Ancelotti took over, the profile of the full back has been fluctuating compared to the Germany international’s steadily rising prospect under Pep Guardiola.
Towards the end of the 2016/17 season, the future of the player was in doubt as he struggled to get playing time. There were links with Manchester City, Man United and Atletico Madrid. The versatile player can feature as a defender and Midfielder, and he is loved by the ranks of fans (and some management) as a potential future star.
He admits that regular game time had helped him develop and that he prefers to continue in the right back role more regularly. Kimmich played 40 games in all competitions last season, playing as a midfielder. He plays in the right back role for Germany where his profile has been rising. He is among the team that recently lifted the FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia after pipping Chile 1-0 in the final.
The management are expected to prevail on giving the youngster more chances in the forthcoming season. The 22-year old has worked hard for the team and he continues to contribute. With his display in Russia, more admirers will make enquiries about the player - if there are not enough assurances, the player could start getting ideas of exit even though he prefers to remain at the Allianz Arena.