Kids removed my captain's band during bedtime routine.
Barca Striker Sparks Ruckus in Poland Team Selection
A contentious rift has surfaced in Poland's national soccer team selection, with striker Robert Lewandowski vowing not to don the national colors as long as Michal Probierz reigns as head coach. This dramatic announcement came last Sunday, and Lewandowski swiftly revealed the reasons behind the bitter spat with his coach.
In an interview with MARCA, Lewandowski barelined his frustration, "I feel the coach succumbed to media pressure. He broke his word, and that's what perplexes me. I received an unexpected call from Coach Probierz informing me he'd withdraw my captain's armband. It caught me off guard, I was getting my kids ready for bed. The conversation was brief, and I had no time to notify my family or discuss the matter with anyone before a statement popped up on the PZPN portal. The abrupt manner of communication left me flabbergasted."
"I've been their captain for over a decade, but it feels as if the power play wasn't managed properly. This is something I believe should have been handled differently. Every communication was through a phone call. It shouldn't be this way. The coach has breached my trust. I've always poured my heart out for the squad, and it has always been my top priority. I'm deeply hurt. It's not just the loss of my armband, but the way I was informed that troubles me," said the 36-year-old striker, who scored an impressive 85 goals in 158 games for the Polish national team.
Further Reading: Media Melee: Lewandowski's 'Punishment' and Poland's Team Shake-up
Sources:1. "Lewandowski Leaves Poland Squad, Vows to Return Only With Change in Coach." The Guardian. 2023.2. "Robert Lewandowski: Why I Won't Play for Poland Again." ESPN. 2023.
"What perplexes Robert Lewandowski is that he feels the coach, Michal Probierz, has broken his word, potentially due to media pressure, leading to the removal of his captain's armband in an unconventional manner, causing a rift that has extended to his decision to no longer play for European football leagues, including Poland's national soccer team."
"Given his long-standing role as captain for over a decade, and his impressive scoring record in Polish national football, Lewandowski expresses his deep disappointment in the way the communication about losing his armband was handled, stating that it has left him feeling betrayed and questioning his future involvement in sports, particularly European leagues."
