As the return of the Barcelona captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen is growing closer, the way manager Hansi Flick will have to consider a goalkeeper debate again for the third time this season. Wojciech Szczesny has said he wants to keep playing.
After Ter Stegen had undergone a serious knee injury in September, Barcelona started signing a replacement and retired Szczesny as an alternative to Ter Stegen. Flick chose to continue with Inaki Pena until 2025, when Szczesny's performances in the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Supercup opened the debate again.
Szczesny said he would accept what Hansi Flick would decide for the final phase of the season.
“I am here this season to replace Marc. And when Marc is back and fit, the coach concludes, and if he decides that Marc is playing, I think it's fine. At the same time I want to play this competition. And I expect that if the coach will make the other way, Marc will also respect that.”
“I don't even know if I am most experienced, Marc has won a Champions League and I don't have that. He is a keeper that I judge very, very very high. Of course I am now completely fit and Marc is just coming back from injury, so I think it is difficult to draw a comparison. But if Marc is fully fit in the world.
He was also asked if there was any tension between the two, now that there was some competition to have.
“At the moment, Marc is only focusing on the weather and does not have to think about it. We understand the situation very well, and there is no tension between us. Whatever happens, we will understand and respect it. We both want the best for the team.”
Szczesny has reportedly agreed to sign an extension of a year with the Blaugrana, although this has not been officially confirmed.
“It is not something that I think too much about or want to waste energy. I have a contract until the end of the season and I want to concentrate on the games. I don't want to waste energy on contract issues or my future. I want to do my best to the club and win big trophies.”
In terms of what his experience brings with a young team, Szczny emphasized his calm attitude towards pressure.
“With the age you ultimately use the pressure. They are more enthusiastic and more energetic, but I remain calmer. My Spanish is not good enough to be the leader in the dressing room, but I try to lead and help as much as an I -Kalmte, with my attitude, I try to help them stay calm.”
Szczesny lived in Marbella in his family during the opening months of retirement when Barcelona called him about coming out of my retirement.
“To be honest, I played golf with my son. The truth is that I had already received some signals for that moment. It seemed strange to me, because there were not many players they would call in that situation. It was very natural.”
“He was the first phone call I received. As I said before, Robert helped me and my family a lot. I was lucky that I could work with him and a group that helped me a lot. It was difficult for me because I had to change my way of thinking again, that was the most difficult, the most difficult, the most difficult to change my minds very easy to play and made it.”
Reports that come from Catalonia claim that the film has already decided on the goalkeeper position, and that while Ter Stegen can play again before the end of the season, Szczesny would remain their Champions League goalkeeper. It would certainly be a risk to change from the back in this phase of the season, although Ter Stegen has a lot of weight as a captain.
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