LaLiga: Why I no longer take penalties for Barcelona – Lewandowski

Robert Lewandowski, a forward for FC Barcelona, has explained why he no longer takes penalty kicks for the team.

The Polish striker said he stepped back from taking penalties because he does not feel fully confident or in rhythm this season. This is mainly due to reduced playing time.

Because of this, younger players like Lamine Yamal and Raphinha now take penalties for Barcelona under coach Hansi Flick.

Lewandowski has been very good at penalties throughout his career, scoring 89 out of 101, which is an 88% success rate. However, he missed two penalties earlier this season against Sevilla FC and Atlético Madrid.

Despite this, the 37-year-old is still performing well. He has scored 16 goals and made 3 assists in 37 matches across all competitions.

However, he has not played regularly. Since December, he has started only five LaLiga matches and played about 1,950 minutes in total.

Explaining his decision, Lewandowski said that when a player does not play often, it affects confidence during important moments like penalties. He added that sometimes players who feel more confident during a match should take the shot instead.

He also made it clear that his decision was not because of the penalties he missed, but because of his limited time on the pitch.

Lewandowski has also missed five matches this season due to injuries, including a muscle problem and a broken cheekbone.