Barcelona superstar’s frustration at being taken off vs Rayo Vallecano and Flick’s response | OneFootball

FC Barcelona moved to the top of the La Liga standings on Monday night after they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano in Montjuic.

It was far from a straightforward match for the Blaugrana who were made to toil by the visitors, but ultimately a Robert Lewandowski penalty proved enough for the Catalans to walk away with all three points and reclaim pole position in the standings from Real Madrid.

Robert Lewandowski was unhappy at being substituted

One moment that caught the eye during the game was the interaction between Lewandowski and Barcelona manager Hansi Flick following the Pole’s substitution.

It was in the 81st minute that Flick decided to replace his goalscorer on the night with Ferran Torres – something that seemingly did not go well with the veteran centre-forward, as reported by SPORT.

Indeed, as Lewandowski greeted Flick on the touchline after his number came up, cameras captured his frustration, as he made gestures of disagreement.

While it was not an act of defiance from La Liga’s leading goalscorer this season, it was clear he did not agree with the decision.

Lewandowski was not happy with his substitution. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Flick’s response

When asked about it in the post-match press conference, Flick was firm in his response, reinforcing his authority over squad management, as he said:

“I think for him it’s always about his desire to score goals and win, but in the end, it’s my decision. I decide what’s best for the team, not for the individuals.

“So it’s not up to him. I always support him, I always give him the chance to start games, and I’m happy with his performance today because he scored a very important goal.”

Under the German, Lewandowski has delivered one of the best seasons of his career, at an age when most strikers are thinking about retirement or taking a step back.

By mid-February, he has already surpassed his best scoring tally as a Barcelona player, netting 32 goals and providing three assists in 34 matches.

The pair share a very strong relationship built on mutual respect, but Flick has not hesitated to substitute Lewandowski when necessary, even when Barcelona was chasing a goal.

Flick’s action and statement sent a clear message – no one is bigger than the team.