Before Marc-Andre Ter Stegen’s season-ending knee injury, Barcelona’s goalkeeping situation was straightforward: the German international was undisputed number one, with Inaki Pena being backup. Things have been less known in recent weeks, although a clear picture is forming again.
Pena has been the starter since Ter Stegen went down against Villarreal in September – and that’s despite the arrival of experienced campaigner Wojciech Szczesny. Hansi Flick is likely to keep things as they are for the time being at least, especially after Pena’s strong performance in El Clasico.
Speaking to MD, Pena opened up on his dynamic with Szczesny, which he admitted to being better than he expected in the circumstances.
“As a person he is spectacular, as you can already see from the outside. I knew him only as a goalkeeper and for how he had played in some of the best teams in Europe. The first day he started talking to me and told me that he was not coming to compete with me, that the only competition I have is with myself – that shocked me. In a position like goalkeeper, which is so competitive because only one player plays, he showed great respect that perhaps he did not need to show. He is 34 years old and helps a lot.”
There are still many, many matches to come this season, so the Barcelona ‘keeper situation could change significantly over the next few months. For now, Pena has the confidence of Hansi Flick.
