Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski: "I'm always looking to improve"
Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski has said he is still trying to improve after getting his 50th and 51st goals of the season in Bayern Munich’s DFB Cup final win over Bayer Leverkusen.
The German champions completed the 13th league and cup double in the club's history after outgunning Leverkusen 4-2 in Berlin on Saturday.
Lewandowski was at the heart of things as Bayern lifted the DFB Cup for a record 20th time, with his two second-half goals adding to a brilliant first-half free-kick from David Alaba and a Serge Gnabry strike that gave them a 2-0 half-time lead.
"My age doesn't play a big role," the 31-year-old told Sky afterwards. "I'm always looking ahead to see how I can improve and help the team."
Bayern's victory means they have now gone 26 competitive games unbeaten – including a German record of 17 wins in a row.
They will resume their campaign in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League in August, meaning the five-time champions still have a chance of winning a treble of major trophies as they did in the 2012/13 season.
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"We played well from the first minute," said Lewandowksi, who finishes as both the leading goalscorer in this season's Bundesliga and the DFB Cup. "We played really well in the first half from front to back… we showed we were the better team and really wanted to win the cup."
Leverkusen had a great chance to make it 2-1 in the second half through Kevin Volland, but Lewandowski immediately punished the runners-up with an opportunistic strike from distance. Controlling a long clearance from Manuel Neuer, he instantly volleyed towards goal from 35 yards.
The ball squirmed through the arms of Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky and – at 3-0 down on 59 minutes – Die Werkself ultimately had too much to do despite a spirited fightback.
Watch: How Robert Lewandowski has become the world's best No.9
"I saw he was a little advanced and I thought 'let's try it'," Lewandowski said. "I was a little surprised (to see the ball go in) but you always have to try these things. That was my first thought – 'try it and see what happens.'"
The Polish striker's swift thinking is just one reason why he has been so prolific this season. He already had 34 league goals and 11 in the Champions League and sealed the win for Bayern with a dinked finish late on – the sixth time he had netted in their cup run.
This latest victory means that Hansi Flick became the first coach to win the double after taking over mid-season. He said his side had been in "extraordinary" form in recent weeks.
"I'm proud that we did it," Flick said. "What the team has produced in the last few weeks has been sensational."
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