Heynckes shrugs off Rummenigge's Lewandowski quip

Cape Town - Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes has defended the decision to rest striker Robert Lewandowski, after CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge questioned the severity of his injury.

Die Roten are set to face Celtic in Glasgow on Tuesday night for a UEFA Champions League group-stage clash, but Lewandowski will stay in Germany to recover.

Rummenigge has implied that Heynckes is simply resting the Pole and that the injury may not actually be preventing him from playing. 

"If we had played against Real Madrid, he might have gone," Rummenigge told the press, according to The Herald.

"The coach does not want to risk anything as Saturday’s game [against Borussia Dortmund], which is very important for us, is in the back of his mind.”

However, Heynckes has defended his decision to leave his star striker at home.

"Rummenigge was a world class footballer and a professional and he has his own opinions,” he said. "But I have always protected my team and with Lewandowski not fit it would make no sense for him to have travelled over to tomorrow’s game.

"If you took Benzema out of Real Madrid and Cavani out of PSG it would make a difference. But we are all big clubs and we have to cope with these injuries. We need to find a solution.

"We have to take precautions. Lewandowski will be receiving treatment and Tuesday’s game is too early for him. We will see about next week.”