Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has opened up about his career and his experiences with some of football’s most influential coaches during an interview with former England international Rio Ferdinand, Soccernet.football reports.
The Polish forward, renowned as one of the finest strikers of his generation, offered insights into his time under Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, and Carlo Ancelotti, highlighting their contrasting approaches.
Guardiola, now synonymous with tactical brilliance at Manchester City, managed Lewandowski during his stint at Bayern Munich.
Reflecting on their time together, Lewandowski revealed that their relationship initially clashed due to the intensity of Guardiola’s methods.
“As a human, he was difficult for the players, because at the time, he was so brilliant with the football tactics, that he thought, if they follow me, they will win. In later times, I have seen that he has changed,” Lewandowski remarked.
He continued, “I think he realised that if he is more human and more open, then it can help him more than tactics sometimes. Tactics are important, but at this level, different things can be decisive between winning and losing.”
Lewandowski contrasted Guardiola’s meticulous focus with Ancelotti’s more personal touch: “Ancelotti is like a father, or an uncle. He can come to you, he can say why are you not happy, he can talk about everything.”
He also praised Klopp’s intuitive balance: “He knows when to be more tough, and when he should be more like a friend.”
The 35-year-old credited Klopp with unlocking his potential during their time at Borussia Dortmund.
Lewandowski revealed a pivotal moment early in his career: “I lost my father at 16, so I was very closed. [Klopp] spoke to me for an hour and a half, and those conversations changed my career.”