'I make the decisions and he has to accept that' – Hansi Flick fires warning at Robert Lewandowski after Barcelona striker struggles to contain frustration

Robert Lewandowski is the latest to experience the authority of Hansi Flick the hard way, after expressing frustration at being subbed out early.

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• Flick warns Lewandowski
• Told him to accept his calls
• Polish striker unhappy with early substitution against Rayo

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has sent a message of authority and let his players know who the man in charge is, firing a staunch warning to Robert Lewandowski after he was visibly frustrated on the bench following an early substitution.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lewandowski was once again the protagonist for the Catalans, as his 25th-minute penalty — the only goal of the game — helped his team beat Rayo Vallecano on Monday night to reclaim the top spot in LaLiga.

  With the game fairly in Barca's control, Flick opted to withdraw Lewandowski for Ferran Torres to give his first-choice centre-forward some rest ahead of some tough fixtures. The Polish striker, though, was captured throwing away a bottle in anger on the Barcelona bench.

• WHAT HANSI FLICK SAID

  “It’s normal for Lewandowski to get upset with the substitution because he wants to score goals, but the decision is mine," Flick told reporters (h/t Get Spanish Football News). "I make changes when I see fit, and they have to accept it.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  Having superseded Real Madrid in the league, Flick and Co. will be hoping to continue their rampant form domestically when they visit Las Palmas this weekend, before hosting Atletico Madrid in the highly-anticipated first leg of the Copa del Rey next Tuesday, February 25.