Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski opens up on Fiete Arp, Borussia Dortmund, and more

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski sat down with Bundesliga.com to cover a number of topics prior to start of the season. First and foremost, the Polish Hitman hit on what nearly everyone expects to be one of the great battles in Europe this season: The upcoming Bundesliga competition between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund:

We’ve had some great battles with Dortmund, and this season won’t be any different. There’s bound to be others in the mix as well. After the first five games we’ll have a fair idea of which teams will be chasing the title with us, and probably Dortmund as well. When you win the title it can actually make the next season even harder. Everyone’s expecting someone else to finally win it.

Playing for Bayern, you always have to aim high. You expect the best of yourself and the fans expect it too. You want to win everything you’re involved in. We’re Bayern Munich, champions of Germany, and need to show that we want to win the title again. That means training and working even harder, and playing with more intensity.

Lewandowski’s confident approach was honed by years of dedication to his craft and implementing the Bayern mindset into his regimen. The 30-year-old expects newcomers Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez to do the same:

You have to understand that joining Bayern comes with a certain level of expectation. But Pavard and Hernandez are players who can help the team straight away.

Another newbie that has caught Lewandowski’s eye is 19-year-old forward Fiete Arp. Arp, a striker by trade, has flexed out wide to play some wing and is working to gain the necessary experience to be a contributor at Bayern this season. Lewandowski can see the talent in the youngster, but acknowledged the former Hamburger SV phenom could use a little seasoning:

He needs a bit more experience, but his time will come.

In the end, however, Lewandowski’s goal for the season mirrors what his approach has been ever year since joining Bayern Munich in 2014:

Whoever you’re playing, you have to deliver and show that you’re number one. My personal goal is always to win!