Hansi Flick has made it clear that Wojciech Szczesny is his preferred choice as Barcelona’s starting goalkeeper, and the decision is paying off. Since the Polish shot-stopper took over, the team has remained unbeaten whenever he has started.
Most notably, he secured a clean sheet in a recent match against Alavés, an achievement the team had not managed in La Liga for over three months. The last time Barcelona kept a clean sheet in the league was during their Clásico encounter with Real Madrid.
Following that match, the team managed to record just three more clean sheets—one in the Champions League against Stade Brest, another in the Copa del Rey against Barbastro, and the third in the Spanish Super Cup against Athletic Bilbao.
However, according to Spanish newspaper El Nacional, there was an unexpected twist in that particular Super Cup game. Iñaki Peña, who was expected to start, was instead benched as a disciplinary measure for arriving late to a technical meeting.
Similar to a past incident involving Jules Koundé, Peña had to accept being dropped. Initially, many believed it was a one-time punishment and that he would soon return to the lineup.
However, Flick appears to have had a change of heart and is now fully convinced by Szczesny’s performances. Despite some costly mistakes—such as conceding four goals and giving away a penalty against Benfica—the former Juventus, Roma, Brentford, and Arsenal goalkeeper continues to enjoy Flick’s trust.
Flick has publicly supported Szczesny, citing his professionalism and leadership on the pitch, and has confirmed that the Polish keeper will remain first-choice until the end of the season. Consequently, Iñaki Peña has been relegated to a secondary role, with virtually no chance of reclaiming the starting spot.
Despite Peña’s impressive form before the incident, Flick appears unwilling to reconsider his stance, effectively sidelining the young Spaniard.
With this decision, Peña’s future at Barcelona looks increasingly uncertain. His contract with the club runs until 2026, but with Flick in charge, a return to the starting XI appears unlikely.
Given the circumstances, Peña has halted discussions with Barcelona’s management, including Joan Laporta and Deco, regarding a contract extension. It is now expected that he will explore options away from Camp Nou, seeking a fresh opportunity where he can secure more playing time.
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