Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski excited by Julian Nagelsmann appointment

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has welcomed the appointment of Red Bull Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann and has praised the 33-year-old’s coaching credentials.

The Bundesliga leaders confirmed the appointment of Nagelsmann on Tuesday and the German coach will take over from Hansi Flick at the end of the season.

Nagelsmann has signed a five-year contract with the club and Bayern have reportedly paid a world-record fee of up to £22m for his services.

He led Leipzig to the semi-finals of the Champions League last season while the club are second in the Bundesliga, behind Bayern, this campaign.

“I don’t know Julian Nagelsmann well, but what I can say is that he always manages to raise teams to a level that you don’t believe,” Lewandowski told Sport Bild. “The performance of Nagelsmann’s teams is mostly above expectations, the sum is more than the quality of a single player.”

The Polish striker, who missed his side’s Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain due to injury, has scored 36 goals in 26 Bundesliga appearances this season.

Lewandowski added that he has enjoyed the best spell of his career under Flick, who will take over from Joachim Low as Germany manager after the Euros.

“We have achieved historic things with Hansi Flick,” he said. “That was by far my best time at Bayern, he always gave us a clear plan of what to expect.”