Many have criticized Marc-André ter Stegen’s behavior in recent weeks following a series of controversial incidents within Barcelona. The German goalkeeper sustained an injury in the fourth round of La Liga against Villarreal, prompting the club to sign Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny, who had previously announced his retirement but accepted the challenge of making one final appearance in a Blaugrana shirt.
Szczęsny required nearly two months to regain full fitness and be ready to start. However, his early performances fell short of expectations, as he made uncharacteristic mistakes for a goalkeeper of his caliber. Over time, though, he gradually recovered much of his form, delivering decisive performances in several matches, despite lingering doubts about his ability to return to top level.
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During Ter Stegen’s absence, coach Hansi Flick consistently expressed his full support for Szczęsny in press conferences, insisting that he was the first-choice goalkeeper and that his starting role was not up for debate. For Flick, the matter seemed settled.
However, Ter Stegen reignited the debate himself. The team captain worked hard during his rehabilitation, managing to shorten his recovery time. Since returning, he has exerted increasing influence on both Flick and Szczęsny, through both public comments and internal meetings. Although Flick reiterated that the Polish goalkeeper would remain the starter until the end of the season, he hinted at the possibility of giving Ter Stegen some minutes — which he did in the match against Valladolid.
Despite a strong run earlier in the season, Szczęsny’s form has notably declined in recent games. This dip, combined with Ter Stegen’s return, has sparked questions in the dressing room about the continued trust in Szczęsny, especially in a high-stakes match like the one against Inter Milan.
Several team captains and senior players reportedly believe that Ter Stegen should have started at San Siro. In their opinion, Szczęsny is no longer fit to be Barcelona’s starting goalkeeper, and Flick must reconsider his choice for the position ahead of the club’s remaining four league fixtures.
