Barcelona secured a hard-fought win in Lisbon last night, beating Benfica 5-4 in an exciting match full of emotions and defensive errors. Hansi Flick’s team needed a last-minute comeback, as the match at times seemed like it was going to end in defeat.
However, the spotlight was on Flick’s surprise decision to bring on goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who did not perform at his best during the match and was criticized for his significant errors in the first half.
After the match, according to Spanish newspaper “El Nacional”, Flick tried to calm things down in his press conference by defending his goalkeeper, saying, “Everyone makes mistakes.” However, inside the team, the situation seems different. The Barcelona dressing room is convinced that these mistakes led to Szczesny’s conviction, and therefore Flick plans to bring Iñaki Peña back into the starting lineup for the upcoming matches.
The young Spanish goalkeeper is likely to regain his place in the starting lineup for the next league match. Sources close to the club have reported that Flick still has full confidence in Iñaki Peña, despite having planned to rest him for a tough match like the one in Lisbon. With the goalkeeper situation becoming increasingly uncertain, it seems that the German coach will not take any more unnecessary risks.
Meanwhile, Barcelona fans have expressed their displeasure on social media with Flick’s decision to include Szczesny in such a crucial match. The pressure is clear on the German coach, who will have to make a crucial decision on whether to continue trusting the Polish keeper or rely on Iñaki Peña, who has shown solidity when needed.
The margin for error has become very small for Barcelona, who continue to compete for all titles this season. In the goalkeeper position, as in any other position, mistakes are very costly.