Decoding why Hansi Flick has made Szczęsny his first-choice goalkeeper over the impressive Iñaki Peña | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have been in excellent form since the start of 2025, but the relentless schedule continues for Hansi Flick and his team. They are set to face Valencia in the Copa del Rey, with a La Liga clash against Sevilla coming right after.

Ahead of the Copa del Rey game on Thursday, Hansi Flick was once again questioned about Barcelona’s goalkeeping situation. He responded unequivocally, stating that Polish veteran Wojciech Szczęsny will be considered the number-one goalkeeper going forward.

Marc-André ter Stegen is currently recovering from a serious injury and is expected to return before the season concludes. However, it appears that Hansi Flick plans to rely on Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny as his first-choice option until the end of the season.

While “Tek,” as he is known within the team, is an excellent goalkeeper and has demonstrated his quality on several occasions since his Barcelona debut, it is difficult to comprehend why Hansi Flick has decided to drop Iñaki Peña, who was so impressive during the first half of the season.

The Spaniard showed significant improvement with each passing game, establishing himself as a reliable presence between the posts. His ability to function as a sweeper-keeper became a standout feature of Hansi Flick’s Barcelona system. Given his consistent performances, it’s unclear what he did to warrant losing his place in the starting XI.

Why Did Hansi Flick Choose to Start Tek and Bench Peña?

As challenging as it is to fully grasp the situation from an outside perspective, this is an attempt to explore the potential reasons behind the German coach’s decision to make such a crucial change midway through the season.

The most glaring issue was Flick’s decision to bench Peña for the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Athletic Bilbao after the Spaniard arrived late to training. Since that incident, things have never been the same for Peña, who has been given only three appearances thereafter.

Two of those three appearances came only because Tek was sent off in the Spanish Super Cup final against Real Madrid, forcing Peña to step in. This situation must have been a tough pill to swallow for the 25-year-old, who has suddenly found himself sidelined from Hansi Flick’s plans.

Beyond this single incident, another reason Hansi Flick might have opted to make Szczęsny his first-choice goalkeeper could be the Pole’s vast experience. With a relatively young squad in front of him, Flick may have felt the need for a seasoned leader on the field—a role Szczęsny is well-suited to fulfill.

Another advantage Szczęsny has over Peña is his physical dominance in the box, thanks to his imposing stature. He exudes greater confidence when dealing with crosses, a trait that could prove crucial in high-stakes European matches.

However, it’s important to recognize that Peña outperforms Szczęsny in several key areas as well. The Spaniard is a far more adept passer from the back, making him a better fit for a possession-oriented team like Barcelona. Additionally, Peña excels as a sweeper-keeper, a role in which Tek has shown vulnerability in recent weeks.

As much as Barcelona fans might prefer Iñaki Peña to start, Hansi Flick has made his decision and appears resolute in sticking to it. That said, the coach deserves the benefit of the doubt, especially given how accurate his decision-making has been throughout the season so far.

It remains to be seen if Wojciech Szczęsny can get even better in terms of performance with every passing game and help Barcelona win silverware this season. That is the only way Hansi Flick’s decision will get vindicated and let’s wait and see how it plays out.