Lewandowski is a better fit for Guardiola than Mandzukic – Hoeness

The former Bayern attacker is confident the Poland international will start banging goals in regularly for the side soon, after scoring twice on Saturday

Former Bayern Munich striker Dieter Hoeness believes the Bundesliga champions were right to sell Mario Mandzukic to make way for Robert Lewandowski, despite the latter’s hampered goalscoring record at the Allianz Arena.

Despite scoring 33 goals in 54 Bundesliga games across his two seasons at the Bavarians, Mandzukic was sold to Atletico Madrid in the summer.

His sale had long been predicted after Lewandowski had been snapped up on a free transfer agreement from close rivals Borussia Dortmund a few months earlier.

While Mandzukic has had a strong start to life in Spain, netting 20 goals in 32 games in all competitions, his replacement at Bayern has struggled to find any consistency. 

However, Hoeness believes the Poland international is a better fit under coach Pep Guardiola than his predecessor and is confident he will hit top form soon and add to the 13 in 30 in all competitions he has so far.

“I believe that Lewandowski is better in Guardiola’s concept fits as Mandzukic,” he told TZ. “However, I regret that Mandzukic is no longer playing in the Bundesliga. 

“I think Lewandowski’s breakthrough is imminent. He is still very, very important for Bayern.”

Hoeness also remarked on his brother, former Bayern general manager Uli, who was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail for tax evasion last year. 

While he has been granted day release from prison, he must return at 6pm every night, and Dieter says things are going well.

“He is doing well under the circumstances,” he added. “He now has different tasks and a bit more freedom during the day. At night he goes back to the door, and that’s not very nice.

“At the beginning I was really worried that he might break because of the situation. Now things have improved thanks to God. It is a good development, and that is encouraging.”

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