Lewandowski: Bayern coach backs Polish talisman for Ballon d’Or ahead of Bayer clash

Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann feels Polish poacher Robert Lewandowski should win this year’s Ballon d’Or as the Bundesliga leaders prepare for Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

“Robert deserves to win it, because in my view he has been more unbelievably consistent than any other player,” said Nagelsmann.

Lewandowski, who has been nominated for the prestigious annual award alongside Harry Kane, Leonardo Bonucci and Lionel Messi, among others, is hoping to win his first Ballon d’Or next month after winning Fifa’s rival award for men’s player of the year in 2020.

The 33-year-old is in a barren spell by his own high standards as Bayern look to defend top spot against Leverkusen, having failed to score in back-to-back Bundesliga games for the first time since 2019.

Lewandowski has form in this fixture, however, having scored a late injury-time winner in Leverkusen last December to knock the then league leaders off top spot.

With seven goals already this season, the Polish star is currently joint leader in the Bundesliga scoring charts alongside Borussia Dortmund prodigy Erling Haaland, and just ahead of Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick.

Nagelsmann backed his veteran goalscorer to stay top dog in the German top flight for years to come.

“He is so dynamic, he doesn’t get injured and he can train a lot. I back him to continue playing at the top level for a few more years yet.”

His comments came as Bayern president Herbert Hainer played down rumours that the champions are mulling a bid for Dortmund star Haaland.

The Norwegian striker, who has also been nominated for the Ballon d’Or, is hoping to return to action against Mainz on Saturday, after missing Dortmund’s last two league games with a thigh complaint.

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