Robert Lewandowski: 'La Liga refs tolerate too much aggressive play'
Robert Lewandowski believes La Liga should encourage a more attacking style of play and argues that referees should be less lenient. Speaking on Barca One with Polish footballer Ewa Pajor, the Barcelona striker has reflected on how the league has changed, noting that many teams now adopt a defensive approach.
"I understand that teams try to stop us in some way, but sometimes referees allow it too much. They always say there are limits, but they apply them in a curious way—you never really know where the line is. I think they should promote more offensive football. Sometimes referees allow not just hard play, but dirty play. If someone plays physically, that’s fine, but if they grab you, stop you, or throw you to the ground, that’s excessive in my opinion," said Lewandowski.
The striker admitted he was surprised by La Liga’s evolution since joining Barcelona in 2022. "I expected a more technical league, but after a few matches, even months, I realised it’s not like before. Many teams now play very defensively, commit fouls, and disrupt play. That offensive style LaLiga had has disappeared a bit. There used to be a lot of goals, not just from the big teams, but in general. I’ve noticed La Liga has become more physical," he reflected.
Despite the changes, Lewandowski remains ambitious and hopes to win as many trophies as possible with Barcelona. "You know I always want to win everything. It’s better to go game by game, see where we are, and fight. I hope we can win the Copa del Rey—I don’t have it yet. Winning the Champions League is always a dream, and doing it with this club would be special," he said.
The Polish striker also expressed his admiration for Barcelona and its fans. "The people here are more open and warm. You can feel the greatness of the club in everything. Even in pre-season tournaments, the excitement around Barca makes it unique. I don’t want to say it’s better, but from day one, I felt I was in the right place."
Regarding his future, Lewandowski did not rule out staying in Barcelona after retiring. "I’ve always seen this as a life experience—to see what the club and living in this city can offer me after my career," he admitted.
