Flick talks goalkeeper search, says Peña can start the rest of the season
The coach showed confidence in his current number one but didn’t rule out a new signing
Barcelona’s week has been dominated by their search for a new goalkeeper after the season-ending knee surgery to captain Marc-André ter Stegen, and the Blaugrana have according to multiple reports agreed a one-year deal with Polish international Wojciech Szczesny, who is coming out of retirement to play for the Catalans.
Szczesny has also reportedly demanded to be the starting goalkeeper in order to accept Barça’s offer, but his potential future coach is not giving up on the current starter just yet. Speaking in a press conference on Friday, Hansi Flick was asked about the goalkeeper situation and didn’t want to address the Szczesny rumors, but made it clear he will give Iñaki Peña every opportunity to remain the starter until the end of the season.
“Iñaki can be the goalkeeper the whole season. Why not? He’s working very well. The confidence he’ll gain from game to game is a good thing. As for another goalkeeper, I don’t know, we have to wait.”
Source: Mundo Deportivo
Flick’s greatest strength as Barça coach so far has been how positive and optimistic about his players, and he’ll always support and protect them publicly to give them as much confidence as possible.
The simple truth is Szczesny is a better keeper than Peña, but Flick can’t say that or he’ll bury someone who is current playing for him and trying to do his best. Maybe the competition from an outsider will even bring the best out of Iñaki, and Szczesny will have no choice to accept a backup role.
The training pitch and the real games will answer all the questions, and the best man will win the job.
Source: barcablaugranes.com
Post a Comment