‘I don’t know what’s in his DNA’ – Hansi Flick raves about Robert Lewandowski and argues Barcelona can’t reach ‘full potential’ without veteran striker around

Ahead of Barca’s Champions League clash against Club Brugge, Flick was full of praise for Lewandowski, whom he knows well from their successful spell together at Bayern Munich. “I don’t know what’s in his DNA, but he recovers in three weeks from injuries that should last five,” the German told reporters.

“Although we had some injuries from last season, we started with Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal at their peak, and that gave us a lot of confidence from the beginning. The style of play was great. This season we’ve lost many players who are now returning. That’s a good starting point.”

When asked about the impact of key players returning from injury, Flick revealed how the return of Lewandowski and Dani Olmo instantly elevated the team. 

 “When Lewandowski and Olmo returned, training was different. The level rose considerably, as did that of the younger players. We need these players to reach our full potential. And that takes time. It’s not just about winning, but about understanding the situation and managing it,” he added.