Bayern Munich manager Niko Kovac has praised Robert Lewandowski and Jerome Boateng for their professional performances this season.
The Bavarians have enjoyed a brilliant start to the new season. Despite having no prior experience managing a big club, Niko Kovac has taken to Bayern Munich like a duck to water. The players are adapting to his methods quickly and his squad have looked convincing in nearly every match.
Kovac also brilliantly dealt with both Robert Lewandowski and Jerome Boateng’s summer transfer sagas. The duo were reportedly keen on getting a move away from Bayern, but the club had different plans. Kovac always maintained the stance, however, that both players would be key for his success at the club. Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Monday (via Goal), Kovac praised the duo for showing great professionalism, despite being denied moves in the transfer window.
"“[Boateng and Lewandowski] are great professionals, world-class players. They know what they have to do.“That they play so well does not surprise me. That’s what I hoped for and expected.”"
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Lewandowski in particular has been the subject of heavy transfer rumors since switching agents to Pini Zahavi earlier this year. Zahavi publically confirmed his client’s desire to leave the club at the end of last season, when Lewandowski was frequently linked with Real Madrid . However, the Spanish giants didn’t reciprocate the Pole’s interest and never made a move for the player.
Bayern Munich always insisted that Lewandowski was not for sale at any cost anyway. He eventually accepted his fate and decided to commit himself 100 percent to Bayern.
The Polish striker was subject to much criticism form German media and pundits after his poor performances in big games at the back end of last season. Lewandowski recently spoke out about his desire for the club to provide him more support during tough phases of the season.
On the other hand, things were quite different for Jerome Boateng. The German defender publicly expressed his desire to experience a new adventure away from Munich. Unlike with Lewandowski, Bayern listened to offers for Boateng and would have sold him for the right price. Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United were interested in signing the 30-year-old, but neither could reach an agreement with Bayern. It was eventually a marriage of convenience for both parties, as Boateng decided to stay in Bavaria anyway.
Lewandowski and Boateng have both enjoyed a fine start to the new season. The former has found the net eight times in all competitions, while the latter has featured often and always impressed. These two players are set to play a key role in Bayern’s ultimate target of winning the Champions League soon.