Lewandowski’s MLS Debut with Chicago Fire
Robert Lewandowski, the Polish striker, recently made his debut in Major League Soccer with Chicago Fire. His first appearance came in a match against Inter Miami, which resulted in a 3-2 loss for his new team. Lewandowski was part of the starting lineup chosen by coach Gregg Berhalter, but he was substituted in the 63rd minute of the game.
Following the match, Lewandowski shared his thoughts on his performance and integration with the team. He acknowledged that he did not expect everything to click immediately, especially after spending only a short time with his new teammates. “After almost two days with my teammates, I didn’t expect everything to work in the first match. I need a little more time,” Lewandowski stated, also explaining that the initial plan was for him to play between 45 and 60 minutes.
The striker expressed regret over the defeat, suggesting that a more aggressive, ball-dominant approach might have secured a draw for Chicago Fire. He remains optimistic about future matches, believing that any issues from his debut can be resolved. Lewandowski is set to have another opportunity to score his first MLS goal this Saturday when Chicago Fire visits New York City.
Reflections on Spain’s World Cup Win
Beyond his club debut, Lewandowski also commented on the recent World Cup, where Spain emerged as champions. He expressed happiness for the eight Barcelona players who were part of the winning squad. “Many of my teammates at Barcelona have won the World Cup and I am very happy for them,” Lewandowski told reporters, referring to the final between Spain and Argentina.
He noted the youth of these players, recalling that he had been playing alongside them just weeks prior to their victory. “They are very young players; a few weeks ago I was playing with them and now I can see them as champions. Congratulations to them,” he added. The Barcelona players mentioned by Lewandowski include Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Pedri, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Eric García, and Joan García, all of whom were his teammates until recently.
Lewandowski, who did not participate in the World Cup, supported the Spanish national team due to his familiarity with many of its members from his time at Barcelona. He spent a significant amount of time with them, which made it easier for him to back their success. He also acknowledged Lionel Messi’s previous World Cup win with Argentina.
Despite Spain’s triumph, Lewandowski offered a nuanced perspective on Lamine Yamal’s performance during the tournament. He suggested that Yamal had not shown his absolute best form, attributing this partly to a recent injury layoff. “Honestly, no, we didn’t [see his best this tournament]. The best performance, the best Lamine for me, of course, wasn’t the last season, but two seasons ago, that was for me now the best version of Lamine Yamal,” Lewandowski explained.
He further elaborated that Yamal’s lack of game time due to injury, having not played for approximately eight weeks before the World Cup, made it challenging for him to perform at his peak. Lewandowski noted that it is difficult to jump straight into a major tournament without sufficient training and game rhythm. Nevertheless, he praised Yamal’s quality and the effective cooperation within the Spanish team, stating, “But he showed really good quality. The Spain players and the team helped Lamine and Lamine also helped the whole team. I think that this cooperation was perfect.”
Lewandowski expressed his happiness for his former teammates, recognizing their readiness to win the World Cup and their promising future. He remains focused on his new challenge with Chicago Fire and looks forward to his next opportunity to score in MLS this Saturday.
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Source: marca.com
