Barcelona’s dominant 5-0 victory over Valencia in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals secured their place in the semi-finals alongside Real Sociedad, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid. The semi-final draw is set to take place on Wednesday, February 12, at the Spanish Football Federation headquarters.
However, the big story following the match wasn’t just Barcelona’s emphatic win—it was a surprising request made by Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Raphinha to manager Hansi Flick. According to El Nacional, the trio approached Flick after the game, urging him to reinstate goalkeeper Iñaki Peña to the starting lineup.
Peña, who had been sidelined since the Spanish Super Cup clash against Athletic Bilbao—where he reportedly arrived late to a pre-match lecture—has found himself playing second fiddle to Wojciech Szczęsny, despite his solid performances earlier in the season. Flick’s decision to bench him has seemingly weighed on Peña, as he was seen distant and not celebrating with the team after their quarter-final win.
The Catalan trio, recognizing their teammate’s frustration, made their feelings clear to Flick, insisting that Peña deserves another chance. “We want him to play again because he has earned it,” they reportedly told the coach. While Szczęsny has performed well, Peña’s teammates believe he has shown enough quality to deserve another opportunity in goal.
It remains to be seen whether Flick will reconsider his stance, but with crucial matches ahead, including the Copa del Rey semi-finals, his decision on the goalkeeping situation could be pivotal.
