The striker has been criticised for his performances since joining Bayern Munich, but retains the support of one of the club’s former stars
Robert Lewandowski’s critics are deluded if they think the striker is a “dodgy purchase”, according to Bayern Munich legend Stefan Effenberg.
The Poland international, 26, was left on the bench for the first leg of the club’s last 16 Champions League tie with Shakhtar Donetsk last week having scored just once in his last five Bundesliga appearances.
However, Lewandowski was back in the starting XI on Saturday and scored twice as the reigning champions thrashed Paderborn 6-0, with Arjen Robben also bagging a double to add to goals from Franck Ribery and Mitchell Weiser.
Effenberg, who had two spells with the Bavarians during his playing career, is adamant the striker is the same player who blossomed at BVB and says he offers much more than just goals.
“People who say that Lewandowski was a dodgy purchase have no idea what they’re talking about when it comes to football,” he told Sky. “He is extremely important to the team.
“The charisma and quality that he had at Dortmund, he has at Bayern. The difference is that at the Allianz Arena he has three or four other world-class attackers alongside him.”
Bayern are back in Bundesliga action on Friday when they host Koln.