Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski: "We will work even harder to stay on top"
Robert Lewandowski has told bundesliga.com defending champions Bayern Munich will do whatever it takes to ensure they remain ahead of their Bundesliga rivals in 2019/20.
Having enjoyed Bundesliga, DFB Cup and Supercup glory last season, Bayern swept all before them domestically.
That said, the title race went to the final day and it took an incredible effort by Niko Kovac's men to see off Borussia Dortmund and secure a seventh successive league title.
And with Dortmund wasting no time in strengthening their team ahead of the new campaign, Lewandowski - last year's Bundesliga top scorer - has told bundesliga.com from Bayern's USA tour that he and his teammates know they will have to be at their very best once again to retain their crown...
Watch: All 22 of Lewandowski's Bundesliga goals in 2018/19
bundesliga.com: Robert Lewandowski, Bayern are preparing for the season with a trip to the USA. What are your impressions of the country?
Robert Lewandowski: I like it a lot. We had a really good time in Los Angeles and Houston, and I'm especially happy that we have so many fans here.
bundesliga.com: Is the team prepared for the upcoming season?
Lewandowski: The season is going to be very long, but we still have a few more weeks to go. There's also the Supercup and the DFB Cup before the start of the Bundesliga season, and we've already been working really hard. But the important thing is that we are at full tilt when the league starts.
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bundesliga.com: FIFA World Cup winners Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez have joined the team. What are your first impressions of the two Frenchmen?
Lewandowski: They're top players and can help the team immediately. They already have experience, so you can expect them to play a key role. But the expectations are, of course, always very high when you come to Bayern.
bundesliga.com: What are your expectations for the new season?
Lewandowski: If you're the defending champions, the following season can be even more difficult. Everyone is expecting another team to finally be champions. But we are Bayern Munich, we are the reigning champions and we want to stay on top. This also means that we train even harder for it - work even harder - and go that extra mile in games. You have to show again and again that you are number one.
bundesliga.com: In the Supercup you're up against your old club Dortmund, and in Mats Hummels you could meet a former teammate...
Lewandowski: Games between Bayern and Dortmund are always fiery. You have to respect that Mats has returned to Dortmund. I think it's a shame that he did not stay, but that's his decision. Now he's an opponent. We'll go out there as Bayern Munich and play even better than last year. We will win the Supercup!
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