Wojciech Szczęsny's signing by Barcelona occurred after a serious injury suffered by Ter Stegen. The German sustained a rupture of the patellar tendon in his right knee, an injury that required surgery and a long recovery period. It was expected that his downtime would be at least eight months, which left the club in a difficult situation, needing to find a temporary replacement.
Meanwhile, as Ter Stegen recovers, Iñaki Peña assumed the role of starting goalkeeper. However, with Szczęsny's arrival, the situation changed.
The Polish player has earned the trust of the coaching staff, including Hansi Flick, who has preferred him over Peña for the starting position. This has left Iñaki Peña in the background, and the Spanish goalkeeper's future has been seriously compromised.
Ter Stegen's Recovery
Six months after his surgical intervention, Ter Stegen is already working on his recovery. Although he hasn't yet reached his ideal physical form, his progress is evident.
The German goalkeeper has started training under the supervision of the club's goalkeeping coach, but caution remains key in his recovery. Ter Stegen hopes to be available for selection in May, although it is still unclear if he will be the starter at that time.
With his return in sight, one of the topics that most concerns Barça fans is the choice of the starting goalkeeper. However, Szczęsny has made it clear that, for now, there is no competition between him and Ter Stegen.
Szczęsny Talks About His Relationship with Ter Stegen
In a recent interview, Szczęsny spoke candidly about his relationship with his teammate. Despite the great pressure of occupying the starting goalkeeper position, the Polish player highlighted the cordiality and friendly atmosphere that exists between him and Ter Stegen.
"I'm very happy to see that his recovery is going very well. Szczęsny said there is no competition for now. "I hope he returns soon and helps us, so I can relax," he added.
These words show great humility on Szczęsny's part, who doesn't seem to view the situation as a rivalry. Despite his good form and the coach's support, the Polish goalkeeper is willing to give up his position if Ter Stegen returns to his best level.