BERLIN, Germany, July 18 – Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp said Thursday he has drawn a line under want-away striker Robert Lewandowski’s bid to leave the Champions League finalists.
The 24-year-old Lewandowski became the first player to score four goals in a Champions League semi-final last season, but made no secret of his desire to leave Dortmund, despite being under contract until June 2014.
Having been heavily linked to European champions Bayern Munich, Lewandowski and his advisors had repeatedly insisted a transfer was imminent, but Dortmund have received no offers and have held the Poland star to his contract.
With 35 goals last season, including 24 goals in 31 league matches, Klopp has said he expects the same from Lewandowski when the new season starts on August 9.
“He’s been great, not only professionally,” said Klopp of Lewandowski as Dortmund finishes their pre-season training camp in Switzerland.
“We are quite relaxed about the situation, so is he.
“He feels right at home in the team and we have chosen to draw a line under last season and this season, getting rid of everything in between.
“We will find out what comes next. There are no problems with Robert.”
Dortmund take part in a pre-season friendly tournament this weekend, which includes hosts Borussia Moenchengladbach, Hamburg, Bayern Munich and Dortmund.
Borussia could meet Bayern in Sunday’s final, in what would be a repeat of May’s Champions League final won 2-1 by Munich, but the only fly in Dortmund’s ointment is the ankle injury to new signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan, which means a four-week lay-off.
“It’s basically a stupid thing to happen, especially for a newcomer, but we have all seen that Henrikh fits in here like a fist in your eye or a backside on a bucket,” said Klopp colourfully after Mkhitaryan cost 27.5 million euros (US$36m).
“What he offers is what we need in our game.”
Mkhitaryan is expected to fill Dortmund’s central midfield role vacated by Mario Goetze’s departure to Bayern.
