Bayern Munich hitman Robert Lewandowski has lifted the lid on the way that Jurgen Klopp helped him to improve his finishing while he was still at Borussia Dortmund.
The Pole is now regarded as the foremost centre-forward in world football, having scored 55 times in 47 outings last season as Bayern swept all before them.
It was not always so straightforward for Lewandowski to find the net, however, and he has revealed that Klopp used a clever financial incentive to help him hone his talent for finding the target when he joined Dortmund in 2010.
“The coach gave me €50 each time I scored 10 goals in the same training session,” he told France Football. “It was in that way that my qualities were increased, that my limits were pushed and that I was made to work more.”
There was a catch, though. When Lewandowski failed to score 10 times, he had to give Klopp €50.
“In my first weeks at Dortmund, I often gave him €50,” he admitted. “But in the end, he stopped it dead because it was costing him too much money!
“But for me it was very profitable because it helped me a great deal to improve my finishing.
“I was young at that time. Klopp spotted my qualities and he wanted me to reach new heights.”
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The now Liverpool boss used Lewandowski as a playmaker during his first season, and while it wasn’t something he necessarily enjoyed, he believes it has profited him throughout his career.
“It didn’t please me because I wanted to play centre forward,” he admitted. “I was surprised. After several months, I started to progress in terms of my understanding, my vision of play and in his collective goals. I learned to build attacks – not only to finish them.”
Lewandowski left Dortmund in 2014 to join Bayern on a free transfer and he has since scored 266 goals in 307 outings.
Klopp, meanwhile, was recognised as The Best FIFA Men’s Coach for 2020 after leading Liverpool to the Premier League title.
Robert Lewandowski 
Jürgen Klopp 
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