H. Walther
Inchenhofen
Yes, the Pole’s accuracy is impressing everyone at the moment – even Joachim Schnürer, who once met as he wanted in the Swabian region.
Mr. Schnürer, after 20 Bundesliga appearances this season, Robert Lewandowski has already scored 25 goals – more than any other player at the time. As a former center forward from FC Augsburg or TSV Aindling, as an expert, so to speak, what do you say about the Polish quota?
Joachim Schnürer: Lewandowski has blossomed into an outstanding center forward in the past four or five years, and is on par with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic from today’s strikers. That is the very highest level and what it does outstanding.
Gerd Müller’s 40 goals from the Bundesliga season 1971/72 are legendary and have never been achieved again to this day. Do you think the record will be broken this season?
Lace-up: If Lewandowski continues like this and is spared injuries, he will break the record.
It is said that a Gerd Müller would score more goals these days than in his active days when he was still dealing with pre-stoppers and Libero. . .
Lace-up: The center forwards from then and now are different types: Müller was a player in the penalty area and you played with three attackers. Today the center forwards are the only nominal attackers and come out of the room. But I’m sure that a Gerd Müller would score more goals these days because, unlike in his time, when extraordinary strikers like him had to prevail against two defenders, he would now have the space in the penalty area.
T. Hase, dpa
Inchenhofen
Gerd Müller was also your role model in your youth. Was he the really best center forward of all time?
Lace-up: Pele, who was also a role model for me and scored even more goals, and Müller were the best center strikers of all time. I don’t think anyone will reach them anymore.
What makes Lewandowski so special?
Lace-up: His callousness in front of the gate. Müller lived from his talent and nose for goals, he scored his goals with all parts of the body and from all positions, that doesn’t happen anymore today. Lewandowski and also a Ronaldo make their goals with their ripped-off and unrestrained speed.
Would Lewandowski and Müller have scored so many goals in a club other than Bayern Munich?
Lace-up: Certainly not with Müller in his time, because he had ten outstanding teammates who were also well practiced. Nowadays the tactical direction of a team is more important. Lewandowski would definitely also score goals at FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris St. Germain, which have a similar alignment with only one striker where he can come from the depths.
During your time at TSV Aindling in the 1980s, there were many outstanding strikers in the region such as Jürgen Kedrusch and Paule Eberle in Dasing, Robert Scheurer and Wolfgang Bitscher at BC Aichach, Roland Bahl at TSV Schwaben Augsburg or Manfred Mrohs at TSG Augsburg . Was this competition among the attackers a motivation for you?
Lace-up: At the time, by all means, we were already competing with one another. We’ve all scored over 30 goals a season. That was also due to the system with three attackers, because we were typical center forwards and penalty area players – of course you score more goals. That is why it is all the more highly valued nowadays if someone scores over 30 goals in a season, because he is often just the only striker and has to run more. What Lewandowski, Messi or Ronaldo run away and how they still score a lot of goals is outstanding. As a penalty area player, on the other hand, it would be much less fun these days.
The so far last top striker from the region in the upscale amateur area was Sebastian Kinzel. His 51 goals in the 2014/15 season in the Bayernliga Süd for TSV Rain am Lech will probably be a mark for the ages. . .
Lace-up: The record stands for eternity. Kinzel is a total exception for today. It’s just a shame that, due to his ability and talent, he didn’t seek the challenge in the higher-class area or with the professionals. I think he could have achieved that. But I know that he is very pleased with the way he has shaped his career. And you just have to respect that.
Back to Lewandowski and Müller again. The Pole is very likely to win his sixth top scorer in Germany this season, like the “Bomber of the Nation” who was born in Nördlingen. Müller’s 365 Bundesliga goals, on the other hand, will probably remain a record that will last. . .
Lace-up: Yes, it will remain unmatched. I can’t imagine anyone going to be able to do that in the next 20 years. Lewandowski may only be able to play at the highest level for two or three more years.
Interview conducted by Herbert Walther.
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