Hansi Flick believes that Wojciech Szczesny this season can become a big player for Barcelona after his Champions League Heroics against Benfica on Wednesday.
Szczesny made eight Saves for Barcelona in their 1-0 win over Benfica in the first stage of their last 16 draw, a huge result after the 22nd minutes of red card from Pau Cubarsi.
Benfica had 26 shots against Barcelona, their most record (since 2003-04) in a Champions League match without scoring, which was all due to the Szczesny display.
The 34-year-old has become a mainstay in the Flick team since he retired last October after the seasonal injury of Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
This season Szczesny held eight clean sheets in his 14 performances in all competitions and admitted only 13 times, with Flick happy with his performances so far.
“He is fantastic. The other players defended 10 to 11, and he helped us a lot. That is his task. We can't hide it,” Flick told reporters on Friday.
“He is doing his job very well, and that's why he is now the number one.
“If you look at players in training, you get a feeling. I discuss it with my staff. I see how the players work and what level they can reach.
“It was clear to everyone that Szczesny could reach this level. We knew it all. I made the decisions, but I am talking to my coaching staff.”
Barcelona is now focusing their attention on LaLala promotion, with the 11th placed Osasuna the visitors to the Camp Nou this weekend.
The side of Flick is one point clearly at the top of the rankings, but the boss of Barcelona is wary of Osasuna, who inflicted the first loss of the Blaugrana season in September.
Osasuna were 4-2 victors in the reverse match, after they had lost each of their previous five games against them. However, Barcelona has never lost both games in the same campaign against this weekend's opponents in Laliga.
“It was different, we played away. Tomorrow we should set the best possible team. I think our performance level is now different now. I am optimistic about tomorrow's game,” said Flick.
Barcelona has won each of their last six Lalala matches, with four clean sheets held in four of them, only won one of their previous eight in the competition (D3 L4).
They are also the first team that scores 71 or more goals in their first 26 games of a LaLala campaign, because they did that themselves in 2016-17 (76 goals).
“It is always good to be positive and to keep a positive image at all times. If you approach things from a negative perspective, I try to prevent mistakes, I don't think that's good. We can defend well as a team,” concluded Flick.
“It will always be a difficult game, I always say the same. They played very well there, we pressed ourselves well, also in one-on-one situations. It was difficult for us to get out of their press. We will try to be prepared.”
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