Lewandowski is the perfect number nine, says Jancker

Joe Wright

Lewandowski is the perfect number nine, says Jancker image

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has been described as "the perfect number nine" by former Germany forward Carsten Jancker.

The Poland international took his goal tally to 25 in all competitions this season when he struck the equaliser in the dying seconds of Bayern's 1-1 Bundesliga draw with Hertha Berlin last week.

Lewandowski also scored one and set up another in the 5-1 thrashing of Arsenal in the Champions League last-16 first leg, meaning he has contributed to a total of seven goals in as many appearances in the competition.

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And Jancker, who won four Bundesliga titles and the Champions League in a distinguished Bayern career, believes Lewandowski is peerless in his position.

"He's perfect. He's at the right age and if you ask me he's a perfect nine," Jancker told the club's official website.

"First and foremost he scores goals, especially the opener. Not just the fifth or sixth; he does score them because he's always fired up for goals, but he often scores the opener.

Arturo Vidal Robert Lewandowski Bayern 2017

"Besides, he rarely squanders possession and has a superb understanding of the game. He often sets up his team-mates and provides assists. Also, he isn't exactly slow."

Jancker claimed a Champions League winners' medal in 2001, having been part of the Bayern side that suffered an agonising 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in the final of 1999.

The 42-year-old admits that the loss at Camp Nou, which saw United claim an unprecedented treble and deny Bayern the same achievement in the process, still haunts him.

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"It was one of the most bitter experiences I've ever had in sport. But it's easier to talk about if you win it eventually!" he said.

"Had it worked in 1999, we'd have won the competition twice. We always wanted more and still more. If you watch the match from Barcelona today you still can't explain what happened there.

"Sometimes you just can't explain football. It really hurt back then, but I guess it was just meant to be."

Joe Wright

Joe Wright Photo

Joe is a Senior Editor at Sporting News. He was previously a sub editor and writer for Goal.com before spending six years as part of the Stats Perform editorial news service, covering major global sports including football, tennis, boxing, NBA, rugby union and athletics. Joe has reported live on some of the biggest games in football, including two UEFA Champions League finals, Euro 2016, the Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 World Cup final at the end of a month in Russia.