Poland national team manager Michal Probierz has revealed the reasons behind his controversial decision to strip Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski of the captain's armband, a move that has led to the 36-year-old striker announcing his withdrawal from international duty.
Lewandowski, one of Poland's greatest ever players, has declared he will not represent his country again as long as Probierz remains at the helm, creating a significant rift in Polish football.
In an interview with Sport, Probierz explained that his decision came after careful consideration following Poland's match against Moldova. "After this analysis, I decided there would be a change of captain for the national team," the coach stated.
According to Probierz, he consulted with players and staff before making the decision to hand the captaincy to Zielinski, who he believes had "good conversations with the players" and was better positioned for the leadership role.
The manager also revealed that Lewandowski had requested the captaincy change be announced publicly, a request Probierz declined. "I didn't agree, because it was simply my decision," he explained.
Probierz expressed surprise at learning about Lewandowski's decision to quit the national team through media reports rather than directly. "Nobody closed the door on him. I wish him the best of luck," he added.
Defending his choice, the coach stated: "Zielinski will now be the captain. I believe this is the best decision for the team at this time."
The situation represents a significant blow to Poland's national team setup, with Lewandowski having been a cornerstone of their attack for years. The Barcelona forward has scored prolifically at international level and led Poland at multiple major tournaments.
This development comes at a challenging time for Polish football as they look to rebuild and qualify for upcoming tournaments without their talismanic striker.
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