Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 10y

Lewandowski yet to 'hit top form'

Robert Lewandowski has warned he is yet to "hit top form" despite a goal scoring start to life at Bayern Munich.

- Ribery over World Cup disappointment
- Schaaf: Bayern take positive lessons from Telekom Cup

Lewandowski, 25, joined Bayern from rivals Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer this summer, and has immediately settled into life with the Bundesliga champions.

After a superb lobbed finish and a successfully converted penalty in his team's shoot-out win against Borussia Monchengladbach in the semifinal of the Telekom Cup, the Poland international helped his new club pick up their first trophy of the 2014-15 campaign with a further two strikes in their 3-0 triumph over Wolfsburg in the final of the preseason tournament in Hamburg.

Despite impressing, Lewandowski told reporters he feels there is much more to come.

"I know that I haven't hit top form yet," last season's Bundesliga leading scorer said. "I scored two goals, but I know that not everything is perfect yet. We're happy that we were able to win a first trophy.

Lewandowski's arrival at the Allianz Arena is also ominous for Bayern's domestic rivals, who saw Pep Guardiola's men march to the top-flight crown in record time last season.

While last season's runners-up, Dortmund, will again likely provide the stiffest challenge to Bayern's domination, Ruhr neighbours Schalke are hoping to improve on their third-placed finish of 2013-14.

However, coach Jens Keller is realistic about his club's chances of overhauling the two sides who have dominated German football in recent seasons.

"We want to qualify for the Champions League and improve. If more comes of that, we'll gladly take it. Dortmund weren't far away, but Bayern were 26 points in front of us at the end. They can only beat themselves again this season," Keller said, adding the heavy Bayern influence in Germany's World Cup win will not hamper the champions' preparations.

"Their alternatives are called Lewandowski, Ribery, Badstuber or Alaba. If Schalke are missing three players it weighs heavier than if Bayern are without seven."

^ Back to Top ^