The Bayern captain has praised his team-mate for developing into a team player, while he insists it will be no injustice if Manuel Neuer does not win the Ballon d’Or
Bayern Munich skipper Philipp Lahm has hailed Arjen Robben, saying that the Dutchman has evolved into a team player and ended his selfish habits.
Robben, 30, appeared to be on his way out of the Allianz Arena in 2012 after being heavily criticised for missing a crucial penalty in the Champions League final defeat to Chelsea.
But the Dutchman has been reborn over the past two years – and is now widely considered to be among the finest players in the world.
“Robben has changed a lot, he’s no longer a symbol of selfishness,” Lahm told Jutarnji.
Lahm also commented on the 2014 Ballon d’Or race, insisting that it will not be an injustice if team-mate Manuel Neuer doesn’t win.
Neuer is on the final three-man shortlist for football’s biggest individual prize, along with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
“There will be no injustice if Neuer doesn’t take first prize,” he stated.
“I would love it to be a German, but we should not be too subjective, Cristiano Ronaldo also deserves to win.”
Lahm also noted that Real Madrid will be Bayern’s biggest rival for European success this season and that he aims to “win another Champions League in the next three and a half years.”
The 31-year-old lifted club football’s biggest trophy in 2013 after Bayern defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the final at Wembley.