Bayern Munich vs Villarreal: Lewandowski not Leaving after Bayern’s Champions league Exit
Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn has dismissed reports that their top-scoring striker Robert Lewandowski could leave when the season finishes next month.
THECONSCIENCENG reports that Lewandowski who scored his 47th goal this season in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at home to Villarreal which saw Bayern knocked out of the Champions League with a 2-1 aggregate defeat in the quarter-finals.
However, the Polish striker, who turns 34 in August, is out of contract next year.
Bayern are taking their time offering him an extension, fuelling reports he may leave with Barcelona touted as one possible destination, which irks Kahn.
“Apparently there’s a competition out there: who can tell the biggest nonsense story about Robert Lewandowski?” Kahn fumed after Tuesday’s Champions League exit.
Kahn insists the runaway Bundesliga leaders are “not crazy and are now discussing the transfer of a player who scores between 30 and 40 goals with us every season”.
Kahn insists Lewandowski won’t leave at the end of the current campaign. “We will definitely have Robert with us for another season.”
Yet while Kahn tried to insist Bayern are “relaxed” about extending the striker’s deal, the club’s lack of action keeps the topic ticking over in the German media.
Lewandowski reacted with surprise last month – “I am hearing this for the first time” – when told sports director Hasan Salihamidzic said Bayern want to extend.
Bayern’s top-scorer reportedly earns up to 23 million euros ($25 million) per year in Munich.
“He knows what he has in Bayern – and we also know what we have in him,” added Kahn, who said extension talks are “ongoing.”
Villarreal dumped Bayern Munich out of the Champions League on Tuesday, Samuel Chukwueze’s 88th-minute strike at the Allianz Arena giving the Spaniards a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their quarter-final tie that took them through 2-1 on aggregate.
Robert Lewandowski had put Bayern ahead on the night to level the tie on aggregate after Villarreal’s 1-0 first-leg win, and extra time loomed until Chukwueze struck.
The result means Bayern Munich exit the Champions League in the quarter-finals for the second year running.
Villarreal are into the semi-finals for the first time since 2006 and will play either Liverpool or Benfica in the last four. The English side take a 3-1 lead into Wednesday’s second leg at Anfield.
Unai Emery’s Villarreal soaked up everything Bayern threw at their defence, aside from Lewandowski’s strike early in the second half.
It was a heart-breaking night for Bayern, who dominated for most of the match before Chukwueze scored just four minutes after coming on.
Bayern started with urgency, but the Villarreal defence was alert to every threat.
Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann changed formation, opting for a three-man defence instead of a back four.
Villarreal were pinned in their own half for most of the first half as Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Hernandez dictated play from the back.
Yet for all their domination of possession, a header by Jamal Musiala straight at Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli was Bayern’s only clear chance of a goalless first half.
Lewandowski, who was largely well marshalled, earned the first booking of the game.
The Villarreal back four worked tirelessly throughout, but left-back Pervis Estupinan had a particularly busy first half as Leroy Sane constantly probed down the flank.
Bayern finally broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute.
A loose pass out of defence only got as far as Kingsley Coman, who moved the ball to Thomas Mueller.
The Germany star slipped the ball into the path of Lewandowski, who managed to get his shot past two defenders and the diving Rulli.
The Poland striker let out a primal scream to celebrate his 13th goal in 10 Champions League games this season.
Bayern kept up the pressure as Mueller went close with a diving header and was left with his head in his hands, as was Coman when he fired over soon after.
Nagelsmann sent on some fresh legs in a bid to get a decisive second goal inside the 90 minutes by bringing on Serge Gnabry and Alphonso Davies.
However, Villarreal stunned the home crowd when Gerard Moreno broke down the left.
He put in a low cross which Chukwueze sent spinning over Neuer to send the Spaniards through
