Lewandowski says young players may struggle to stay at the top

Chicago Fire forward Robert Lewandowski believes today’s generation of footballers will find it harder than previous generations to perform at a high level for many years. The Athletic reported his comments.

Lewandowski said the previous generation had to work for years, wait for opportunities and develop gradually to achieve major goals. Young footballers today, by contrast, find success earlier and reach the elite level sooner. But the forward stressed that this does not guarantee they will remain at that level for long.

He noted that footballers are human and that performing at the limits of their ability year after year is very difficult. That is why they need to pay attention not only to their physical condition but also to their mental well-being.

Lewandowski added that early success in a career, even when it is the result of hard work, can gradually reduce a player’s desire to win. At a certain point, he said, a footballer may lose the “hunger to win” that is essential to success, making it harder to remain among the best. The forward has previously played for Barcelona and Bayern Munich.