Poland manager Michal Probierz asserted that he won't step down from his post, while keeping doors for Robert Lewandowski's return open.
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Lewandowski stripped of armband by ProbierzStriker won't play for Poland with current boss is in chargeHead coach won't resign but leaves return door openFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Probierz has confirmed that he won't resign from his role in the wake of his team's defeat to Finland and Lewandowski's recent claim that he will not represent the national team again as long as the 52-year-old remains at the helm. However, the veteran striker is not out of his manager's plans, who stated that he "did not close the road to the national team for him."
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After a long season with Barcelona, with whom he scored 42 goals, Lewandowski withdrew his name from the Poland squad and told Probierz that he was "mentally tired." The 36-year-old also took to social media to explain his reasons behind pulling out his name from Poland's games this month — including a World Cup qualifier against Finland — citing physical exhaustion and fatigue. Probierz decided to strip Lewandowski of the captain's armband and appoint Piotr Zielinski as his replacement, which left the forward "very hurt".
WHAT MICHAL PROBIERZ SAID
Speaking to reporters after Poland's shocking 2-1 defeat to Finland on Tuesday evening, Probierz insisted he would not resign, saying: "I believe that I do the best I can. I make all decisions for the good of the team. I realise that it is painful, but I have no intention of resigning. I've been in football for so many years that I've experienced many situations. The coach signs a contract, holds a pen in his right hand and a suitcase in his left. That's life, but I'm not a person who gives up. I think we'll get through this if we can.
"Robert Lewandowski is an outstanding player and I did not close the road to the national team for him. I want to make it clear. I did not make this decision. Jeers from the stands? That's normal. You have to be able to live with it."
Asked if he regretted the decision to remove Lewandowski as the captain, he said: "At that moment I thought it was the right decision. It's hard to judge after some time."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI?
Unless both Probierz and Lewandowski reach a resolution and overcome their disagreements, the latter is expected to stay away from international football. The Polish fans, for their part, already made their thoughts clear on the situation in Helsinki on Tuesday, booing and whistling the coach even before the kick-off whistle was blown. Fans will hope that Lewandowski announces his decision to resume with the national team before Poland's next set of games, which will take place in September against Netherlands and Finland.