Poland’s national team manager, Michał Probierz, has offered an explanation for his decision to remove Robert Lewandowski as captain of the national side.
The move prompted the 36-year-old Barcelona striker to announce his departure from international football, stating that he will not represent Poland again as long as Probierz remains in charge.
In an interview with Sport, the Polish coach elaborated on the reasoning behind the controversial decision. He said that he took time to consult with players and coaching staff and carefully assessed the situation following Poland’s match against Moldova.
“After conducting this analysis, I decided that a change in captaincy was necessary,” Probierz explained.
He chose to pass the armband to midfielder Piotr Zieliński, citing the quality of Zieliński’s communication with teammates as a factor in his decision.
Probierz also shared that Lewandowski had requested, via a phone call, for the change in captaincy to be publicly announced. The coach declined, saying, “I didn’t agree, because it was simply my decision.”
According to Probierz, he learned of Lewandowski’s decision to step away from the national team through the media. He emphasized that the door has not been closed on the striker, adding, “I wish him the best of luck.”
“Zieliński will now be the captain. I believe this is the best decision for the team at this time,” he concluded.
