VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN - OCTOBER 06: Hansi Flick, Head Coach of FC Barcelona, looks on during the LaLiga match between Deportivo Alaves and FC Barcelona at Estadio de Mendizorroza on October 06, 2024 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.

Hansi Flick’s confidence in 25-year-old player is now paying dividends for Barcelona

Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

With Marc Andre Ter Stegen’s injury, there was a lot of uncertainty about the goalkeeping position at FC Barcelona. With the starting goalkeeper out, Inaki Pena was the next in line to start between the sticks for the Catalans.

However, owing to the lack of experience of the next two goalkeepers in line, Ander Astralaga and Diego Kochen, Barcelona decided to take advantage of FIFA and La Liga regulations, which allowed them to sign an unemployed player due to the loss of Ter Stegen and signed the Polish veteran, Wojciech Szczesny, who had retired from professional football at the end of the UEFA EURO 2024.

When negotiations were underway between Szczesny and Barcelona, and also after the Pole had signed for the Blaugranes, there were rumors claiming that he had signed only after being assured that he will be the starting goalkeeper at the Catalan club.

However, the club, and especially Hansi Flick, were quick to show their full confidence in Inaki Pena, both on the pitch and in front of the press, and as MARCA has noted, this is already paying dividends for Barcelona.

The report from the Spanish outlet makes it clear that Szczesny was never promised the starting spot, and it was always understood that Pena would be the starting goalkeeper even after the Pole’s arrival.

However, the Spaniard understood that he now had a diminished margin for error, and poor performances could cost him this starting spot. But he has been impeccable in the games against Sevilla, Bayern Munich, and especially Real Madrid.

In this latter game, the La Masia graduate made several saves and kept the men in white from staging a comeback. He ended up keeping a clean sheet in that match. Thus, for the coming few matches, he can rest assured about his starting spot in the Barcelona team.

Tags Inaki Pena