“FC Barcelona recruits Wojciech Szczęsny! FC Barcelona and Wojciech Szczęsny have reached an agreement regarding the signing of the goalkeeper until June 30, 2025», this is what FC Barcelona proudly announced on October 3. While his goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is out until the end of the season, understudy Iñaki Peña was promoted to starting position. A role in which the latter brought little certainty and which therefore led to the recruitment of Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. Certainly aged 34 and recently retired for two months, the one who wore the jersey of Arsenal, AS Roma and Juventus has a lot of experience and his last season at Juventus was satisfactory. Enough to be confident about its success in Catalonia.
Finding his friend and compatriot Robert Lewandowski who pushed his arrival, Wojciech Szczesny arrived on conquered territory even if the competition with Iñaki Peña was in full swing. Short of form, he took advantage of the October international break to recover part of his physical delay and was thus able to start on the bench against Sevilla on October 20. However, there was no question of removing Iñaki Peña from the team so quickly. I’m happy that he (Szczęsny) says he is ready to play, but there is no reason to change goalkeepers. Iñaki Peña will play against Sevilladeclared Hans-Dieter Flick at the time.
Wojciech Szczesny still has to wait
However, the situation has not changed since. Starting against Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Espanyol Barcelona, Red Star Belgrade and most recently Real Sociedad, Iñaki Peña performed well and did not motivate Hans-Dieter Flick to establish the competition in launching Wojciech Szczesny. A situation accepted by the latter. “He didn’t give him any reason to leave him on the bench. We talked a lot. I already told the coach that I was 100% but the team is working well. If the alchemy isn’t broken, then don’t touch it. If I were in the coach’s position, I wouldn’t get played either. I will have the opportunity to play later. At the moment the team is working very well, that’s the most important thing”he declared to Eleven Sports end of October.
Still on the sidelines, Wojciech Szczesny maintains his physical condition and remains ready in case Iñaki Peña’s level declines. Yesterday during FC Barcelona’s 1-0 defeat against Real Sociedad, Iñaki Peña played and did not necessarily do poorly. However, for his eleventh appearance of the season, he suffered defeat, whether Hans-Dieter Flick will hold it against him when he returns from the international break. Until then, the situation was still clear for the German coach who declared this last Saturday, November 2: “Szczęsny is training very well, but Iñaki Peña is playing now. He has a great personality. He will be important in tomorrow’s match (against Espanyol Barcelona editor’s note)), and he gives us stability.» For the moment condemned to the bench, Wojciech Szczesny must be champing at the bit while biding his time.
