Barcelona secured a dramatic 5-4 win over Benfica in Lisbon last night, with emotions running high and defensive lapses from both teams throughout the match. Despite the thrilling comeback, the spotlight quickly shifted to Hansi Flick’s surprising decision to bring on Wojciech Szczesny as a substitute goalkeeper, a move that raised eyebrows after Szczesny’s significant errors in the first half.
Following the match, Flick attempted to downplay the goalkeeper’s mistakes in the press, stating, “Everyone makes mistakes.” However, inside the dressing room, the feeling seems to be that Szczesny’s errors may have cost him his spot in the starting lineup. Reports suggest that Flick is planning to bring Iñaki Peña back into the fold for the upcoming fixtures.
Despite Szczesny’s experience, the team has expressed a growing confidence in Peña, who has shown more consistency between the posts when called upon. With Barcelona’s season on the line and a tight competition for titles, the goalkeeper position is becoming a focal point of concern, and Flick’s next steps will be closely watched by both players and fans.
With many questioning the decision to play Szczesny in such a crucial game, it remains to be seen whether the manager will continue to trust the Polish keeper or opt for Peña to solidify Barcelona’s defense moving forward.
