Robert Lewandowski has accused Poland coach Michal Probierz of betrayal after being stripped of the national team captaincy. The Barcelona striker said the decision—and the way it was handled—left him deeply hurt.
Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski has accused Poland head coach Michal Probierz of betraying his trust after being stripped of the national team captaincy. In an interview with WP SportoweFakty, the 36-year-old revealed he received a “surprise call” from Probierz while putting his children to bed, informing him of the decision.
“The coach betrayed my trust,” Lewandowski said, adding that the real issue was the abrupt manner of the announcement. “It really shouldn’t have been this way.”
Piotr Zielinski has since taken over as captain, reportedly to applause from teammates.
Lewandowski also rejected claims that he skipped international duty out of disinterest, insisting it was a mutual decision.
“I called the coach before our game against Bilbao. He supported my decision to rest,” he said.
Probierz responded at a press conference, stating, “The decision was for the good of the team. There are no hard feelings.”
The rift follows criticism Lewandowski made of the team after a previous fixture, which some say added to the tension.