FC Barcelona are enjoying a strong finish to the 2024–25 season, competing on all fronts. But with Marc-André ter Stegen nearing the end of his recovery, a new debate has emerged: Who should start in goal? Wojciech Szczesny, who has stepped in during Ter Stegen’s absence, weighed in on the discussion ahead of the second leg against Borussia Dortmund.
Ter Stegen has been sidelined since suffering a complete rupture of the patellar tendon in his right knee in September 2024. While Iñaki Peña was initially given the nod, Szczesny quickly solidified himself as the team’s first-choice keeper across all competitions.
Now, with Ter Stegen nearing a return—and already expressing his desire to play before the season ends—Szczesny was asked who he thinks is the better option. Though some consider him more experienced, Szczesny took a humble and respectful stance:
“I don’t know if I’m the most experienced goalkeeper. Marc has played at the highest level for a long time. He’s already won the Champions League, which I haven’t. I value Marc highly as a goalkeeper,” the Polish goalie stated. When asked for a personal opinion, Szczesny didn’t hesitate to praise his teammate:
“Comparing the two of us doesn’t make much sense because, right now, I’m fully fit and he’s just coming back to training after a serious injury. If you ask for my personal opinion, when Marc is fully fit and at 100%, there aren’t many goalkeepers in the world who can compete with him,” he stated.
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Coach Flick and the goalkeeper position
Ter Stegen last played for Barca in September 2024 against Villarreal, and now the final decision falls to head coach Hansi Flick. After initially backing Iñaki Peña, Flick turned to Szczesny following internal conflicts earlier this year—making the Polish keeper his go-to choice.
With both goalkeepers eager to compete, Flick addressed the situation in his pre-match press conference: “In football, many things can change very quickly—anything can happen—so I can’t answer 100%. What I can say is that he (Szczesny) is very important to the team, and that our group of goalkeepers get along very well. They support each other every day, and that helps each of them improve constantly, which is something I really love,” Flick stated.
With a Champions League semifinal potentially on the horizon and La Liga still in play, the decision in goal could prove crucial to Barcelona’s trophy hopes.
