Barcelona Dressing Room Reportedly Divided Over Goalkeeper Controversy After UCL Exit
Tensions are rising in the Barcelona dressing room following the club’s Champions League semi-final elimination, with Marc-André ter Stegen at the center of a reported internal rift. Criticism has mounted over both his recent conduct and the team’s decision to continue starting Wojciech Szczęsny, despite the German’s return to fitness.
Ter Stegen, who was injured in La Liga’s fourth round against Villarreal, saw Szczęsny come out of retirement to cover his absence. While the Polish veteran initially struggled, he recovered enough to earn Hansi Flick’s public backing as the undisputed No. 1.
However, since Ter Stegen’s recovery, he has reportedly become increasingly vocal behind the scenes, pushing for more playing time and challenging Szczęsny’s status, especially as the latter’s form has dipped in recent matches — notably during the costly Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan.
According to dressing room sources, a group of senior players and captains believe that Flick made a grave tactical error by starting Szczęsny over Ter Stegen in Milan. They reportedly now support reinstating Ter Stegen as the starter for Barcelona’s final four La Liga fixtures, particularly with the title race still alive.
With Flick under pressure to maintain unity and results, the decision over who starts in goal could prove pivotal — not just for this season, but for the long-term structure of the team’s leadership
