Hansi Flick made it clear publicly at the end of the Barça-Valencia match: "We have never lost with Szczęsny in goal, and for me, that is very important."It is not the best situation for Iñaki Peña, but this is football. I made that decision in consensus with my coaching staff, and we are satisfied with it."
There is a shake-up in Barça's goalkeeping position, and the very backup Szczęsny takes over from Iñaki Peña between the posts for Barça. This decision has sparked extensive debate among Barcelona fans.
Flick told Iñaki Peña face to face
Before making his intentions clear to the media, Flick spoke with Iñaki Peña face to face. He made his new situation within the team clear to him. From now on, the goalkeeper he trusts will be Szczęsny.
In fact, Szczęsny will be Barça's starting goalkeeper in all competitions until Ter Stegen returns. This is Flick's plan. However, there will be a wait, as the German's return is expected after the summer.
Flick's decision hasn't pleased Barça's fans, who mostly favor the Alicante goalkeeper. The mistakes shown by the Pole in recent matches generate distrust.
Lack of punctuality as an explanation
Toni Juanmartí, a journalist from Sport, points out that Flick values the experience in the goalkeeper considering the age of the rest of the team. However, it must be said that Iñaki Peña is no rookie as he is about to turn 26 years old. Moreover, he has experience as a starting goalkeeper in the Champions League with Galatasaray.
On the other hand, there is a supposed lack of punctuality from Iñaki Peña in arriving at training sessions. Although it is hard to understand how this detail could be decisive in the choice of Barça's goalkeeper.
In Tiempo de Juego on COPE, former goalkeeper Santi Cañizares said about Flick's change of preferences: "Right now, I don't see Szczęsny as better. But coaches, when evaluating goalkeepers, don't look at the short term; they look at the medium and long term.
Flick believes that Szczęsny is better than Iñaki Peña, and whether he deserves it or not, what he is building is a goalkeeper for the most important phases of the championship."
5 matches played, 6 goals conceded
"In some of the matches he has played, Barça has won despite him." This is Cañizares's reply to Flick when he says that Barça hasn't lost with him. In the same vein, Julio Maldonado, Maldini, expresses: "what I've seen from Szczęsny hasn't convinced me."
5 matches played and 6 goals conceded. 1.2 goals per match. With a red card in the Super Cup final and a blatant error colliding with Balde in one of Benfica's goals in the Champions League.
Barça receives two offers for Iñaki Peña
But the decision is made, and Barça has two offers on the table for Iñaki Peña. One from Spanish football and another from Galatasaray, the team where the Alicante goalkeeper played on loan for a season.
The problem with Flick's decision to opt for Szczęsny is that Ter Stegen will not start the next season. He is expected in October. And it would be surprising if Barça renewed Szczęsny at his 35 years of age.
Ter Stegen will need practice and a lot of training before returning between the posts. If Barça transfers Iñaki Peña and doesn't renew Szczęsny, Flick will have a problem.
Unless, as has also been suggested, Szczęsny, due to his age, is more to Ter Stegen's liking to have as a backup.