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Schalke defeated, lagging behind leaders Dortmund shortened: Actually, they could enjoy Bayern and remain silent. After the 3-1 win against FC Schalke 04 on Saturday night, sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic rattled anyway. It was about Sky expert Dietmar Hamann and his criticism of Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski.
"I do not think Robert Lewandowski is a problem for Bayern Munich, but Didi Hamann is a problem for Sky," Salihamidzic said. "The people of Sky need to think about Didi Hamann," he said. He must highlight Lewandowski "in our good team because he's just a leader, he's ahead, he's our top scorer, he's one of the best strikers in the world." Therefore, one could not criticize him, he continued: "That is unaware".
"Obviously that he is a loner"
Hamann's comments after the 3-1 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 1 were cause for criticism. As the former Bayern pro said: "I think that Lewandowski is a problem for Bayern Munich." Reason is "his theatricality, his dismissal, his sometimes listless behavior on the pitch, I think it is obvious that he is a loner." That was not a problem in the past, because Lewandowski "made goals and even if he did not score goals, had a value for the team," said Hamann. That is no longer the case.
After the 21st matchday Lewandowski stands with 13 goals behind Frankfurt Luka Jovic in second place of the Bundesliga scorers list. Last season there were 18 goals and first place at the same time. But the 30-year-old striker delivers significantly more assists (ten) than in the previous year (three to 21 Matchday, at the end of the season there were four). In addition, Lewandowski plays a better Champions League season than last (2018/2019: eight goals in six games, 2017/2018: five goals in eleven games).
"That must be possible"
Salihamidzic even spoke of a "campaign", which leads Hamann against the Munich attacker. Why Hamann should lead such a campaign, he left unanswered. Sky reporter Patrick Wasserziehr said in an interview with Salihamidzic against: "I do not think that Didi Hamann is a problem for Sky, because he simply articulates his opinion clearly, even if they do not like Bayern Munich. And there would be purpose behind a campaign, "Wasserziehr said.
Now Sky said in a statement: Hamann's verdict is "generally highly valued because it also controversial theses, which are not always shared by everyone, then he can then measure and this may be discussed objectively at any time."
Allegedly unacceptable criticism of Bayern players and the squad planning - this charge had raised the Bavarian bosses Uli Hoeneß and Karl -Heinz Rummenigge in a memorable press conference last October. Among other things, they had threatened with legal action and cited Article 1 of the Basic Law.
Note d. Editor: Dietmar Hamann has worked as a columnist for SPIEGEL ONLINE in the past.