Robert Lewandowski's weeks-long retirement brings FC Bayern into trouble. Because the scorer is not to be replaced equally. What options does trainer Hansi Flick have?
- Robert Lewandowski is injured for about a month.
- Now Hansi Flick has to find a replacement in the squad .
- Everything boils down to renovation measures .
Munich - This groin injury was a curiosity. Then Robert Lewandowski played for weeks with a broken groin, scheduled the operation appointment himself and was back on the field 29 days later. He skipped the training camp, but otherwise the Pole was fully on schedule. This man can even seem to be planning injuries.
The Bavarians hope that the tight schedule will work out . Four weeks, it is said, must now go without the scorer . But the very fact that the damaged left leg has to be immobilized with a plaster cast for ten days calls skeptics on the scene. 18 days between bedside and starting eleven is not much time. If everything goes according to the optimistic plan of the club doctors around Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt, Hoffenheim, Schalke, Augsburg, Berlin, Frankfurt and Chelsea have to go without him. If it takes longer, Hansi Flick's emergency plan must take a few weeks longer and against larger opponents.
Who will replace Lewandowski? Talents Arp and Zirkzee are not real options
Since the signing of another top striker has so far been deliberately avoided, Flick has to use his offensive midfielder's offer. Both Fiete Arp and Joshua Zirkzee , who could replace Lewandowski in position, are not real options. Arp plays no role with the professionals, is not even in the squad for the premier class. And Zirkzee has so far proven to be a good joker, but - according to the internal view - is not yet ready for larger tasks. Also the option with Ivan Perisic , who stormed against Lewandowski's absence against Nuremberg during the winter break, is canceled. The Croatian is missing with an ankle injury at least until mid-March.
The most logical option is Serge Gnabry as Lewy's filler. He is flexible enough to find his way around. There it will be served by Thomas Müller on the right and Philippe Coutinho on the left. Leon Goretzka can take on the central role that Müller played most recently. And when Kingsley Coman is available again, there will be another variant.
Flick will therefore probably not dare to undertake an even larger conversion , although the variant with Alphonso Davies as the left offensive wing has already been discussed internally. If the currently outstanding left-back would play one position higher, Flick would also have to change his defense. The Bayern coach has a large construction site , but also has to think about the time afterwards. He only needs a gap filler for four weeks. Hopefully. Otherwise he has a bigger problem.
Poll: who should replace Lewandowski?
Serge Gnabry teased after his gala performance at Chelsea against his former adopted home. At the banquet in London, CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge surprised with a special gesture towards Hansi Flick. The Reds will soon appear in a special retro jersey.
Hanna Raif, Jonas Austermann
