<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/hansi-flick/">Hansi Flick</a> may have successfully navigated Barcelona through a challenging season in Europe despite financial constraints, but his tenure has not been without controversy. Recent reports suggest that Barcelona’s captains confronted the German coach, questioning his decision to drop goalkeeper <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/inaki-pena/">Iñaki Peña</a> from the starting lineup.



Goalkeeper issues have plagued Barcelona throughout the season, particularly after Marc-Andre ter Stegen sustained a season-ending injury early on. This left Iñaki Peña as the only available option, forcing the club to rely on the 25-year-old La Masia graduate to fill the void.



As a result, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/wojciech-szczesny/">Wojciech Szczesny</a>, who had returned from retirement, was expected to take over as the primary goalkeeper. However, in an unexpected move, Flick kept Peña in the starting role. That was until a two-minute delay during a training session prompted Flick to make the controversial decision to replace Peña with Szczesny.



According to Spanish outlet Sport, this decision was a huge blow to Peña, who is reportedly struggling to understand the rationale behind it. It’s understandable given that the young goalkeeper had been waiting for his opportunity to shine, especially after Ter Stegen’s injury, but now finds himself sidelined.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250211_WST_554260_Inaki-Pena-FC-Barcelona-1200x675_8df33171.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-554262" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/10193657/Inaki-Pena-FC-Barcelona-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/10193657/Inaki-Pena-FC-Barcelona-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/10193657/Inaki-Pena-FC-Barcelona-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/10193657/Inaki-Pena-FC-Barcelona-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/10193657/Inaki-Pena-FC-Barcelona-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/10193657/Inaki-Pena-FC-Barcelona-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/10193657/Inaki-Pena-FC-Barcelona-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/10193657/Inaki-Pena-FC-Barcelona.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



The captains, including Barcelona’s leadership figures, reportedly approached Peña to offer their support. They encouraged him not to give up and to keep working hard for the good of the team. They also questioned whether there were any undisclosed factors influencing Flick’s decision. As Sport wrote, some influential players used their leverage within the squad to directly inquire about the situation with the German coach.


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<h2>What happened between Iñaki Peña and Hansi Flick?</h2>



The turning point in Peña’s situation came when he arrived late to the team’s activation session at their hotel in Saudi Arabia, prior to the Spanish Super Cup match against Athletic Bilbao.



Since then, Peña has made only three appearances: one in the Spanish Super Cup final against Real Madrid due to Szczesny’s red card, and two others against Real Betis and Getafe. Since January 18, he has been relegated to the bench, with Szczesny taking over as the starting goalkeeper.



Was this late arrival enough to warrant Peña’s exclusion from the starting role? According to Sport, Peña had an uncomfortable conversation with Flick, in which the goalkeeper sought clarification on why he had been left out. However, the conversation reportedly did not end on positive terms, potentially deepening the rift.



Peña remains one of the most respected players in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/barcelona/">Barcelona</a> locker room, particularly among the younger players, who admire his professionalism and low-key demeanor. As an example both on and off the field, the squad seems unified in their support of Peña, waiting for a resolution to the ongoing situation.

Looking for answers: Barcelona captains reportedly confront Hansi Flick over decision to drop Iñaki Peña

Barcelona captains reportedly confront coach Hansi Flick over decision to drop Iñaki Peña - World Soccer Talk

Barcelona captains reportedly confront coach Hansi Flick over decision to drop Iñaki Peña

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The goalkeeper position has been a revolving door for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/barcelona/">Barcelona</a> this season. While Iñaki Peña initially held the role, his recent misconduct has opened the door for Wojciech Szczesny to take over. Heading into the second half of the 2024-25 season, coach <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/hansi-flick/">Hansi Flick</a> has made a strong decision on who will guard the net.



Barcelona faced an unexpected blow early in the season when starting goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a season-ending injury. With Peña as the only available option, the club turned to the free-agent market for reinforcements. Enter Szczesny, who came out of retirement in October to join the Catalan giants.



Despite Szczesny’s arrival, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/inaki-pena/">Peña</a> solidified his role as the starter for the remainder of 2024, leaving the Polish veteran on the bench and unable to make his debut. That changed in January 2025, following an incident in the Spanish Super Cup semifinal against Athletic Bilbao. Peña arrived late to a pre-match training session at the team’s hotel, prompting Flick to enforce disciplinary action. As a result, Szczesny was handed his official debut in a critical match.



Since that pivotal moment, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/wojciech-szczesny/">Szczesny</a> has featured in five of Barcelona’s six games, while Peña has only played in one. Up to that point, Peña had appeared in 22 matches, conceding 25 goals and recording six clean sheets. However, his misconduct before the Bilbao clash appears to have relegated him to a secondary role.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250127_WST_550891_Wojciech-Szczesny-FC-Barcelona-1200x675_0f1ce406.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-550894" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/27145305/Wojciech-Szczesny-FC-Barcelona-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/27145305/Wojciech-Szczesny-FC-Barcelona-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/27145305/Wojciech-Szczesny-FC-Barcelona-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/27145305/Wojciech-Szczesny-FC-Barcelona-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/27145305/Wojciech-Szczesny-FC-Barcelona-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/27145305/Wojciech-Szczesny-FC-Barcelona-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/27145305/Wojciech-Szczesny-FC-Barcelona-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/27145305/Wojciech-Szczesny-FC-Barcelona.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



Following the weekend’s match against Valencia, Flick addressed the goalkeeper situation with a clear stance. “One week with Szczesny as the starter, two victories. One against Benfica and another against Valencia. It’s a difficult situation for Iñaki Peña. It’s something that has been discussed internally, and we’ve made this decision,” Flick stated.


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<h2>Flick’s faith in Szczesny despite errors</h2>



The start of 2025 has been transformative for Szczesny, who went from being an unused substitute to securing the starting role, despite a few notable errors committed in the month of January.



One of Szczesny’s most significant mistakes occurred during the Spanish Super Cup final against Real Madrid, where he received a red card for a reckless challenge on Kylian Mbappe. Against Benfica in the Champions League, a mix-up with teammate Alejandro Balde resulted in a goal for the Portuguese side. Most recently, Szczesny was saved by VAR from conceding a penalty during Saturday’s match against Valencia.



Despite these moments, Flick appears to trust Szczesny moving forward. The veteran goalkeeper’s leadership and experience seem to outweigh his occasional lapses, solidifying his place as Barcelona’s No. 1 for the remainder of the season.

Hansi Flick resolves Barcelona goalkeeper dilemma after Szczesny's performances and Peña's misconduct

Hansi Flick resolves Barcelona goalkeeper dilemma after Szczesny's performances and Peña's misconduct - World Soccer Talk

Hansi Flick resolves Barcelona goalkeeper dilemma after Szczesny’s performances and Peña’s misconduct

<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/barcelona/">Barcelona</a> secured a&nbsp;2-0 victory over Athletic Club&nbsp;in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/spanish-super-cup/">Spanish Super Cup</a> semi-finals, advancing to the final set on January 12. The match, played at the King Abdullah Sports City, saw goals from Gavi and Lamine Yamal, ensuring Barcelona’s place in the final. However, the pre-match headlines focused on a surprising decision: Wojciech Szczesny starting in goal instead of Iñaki Peña, who was initially slated to lead the defense.



Barcelona’s performance on the field was nothing short of dominant.&nbsp;Gavi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, capitalizing on a cross from Balde. The lead was doubled in the second half when&nbsp;Lamine Yamal scored in the 53rd minute, firing a shot from inside the penalty area. Although Athletic Bilbao attempted to stage a comeback with two disallowed goals late in the game, Barcelona held firm.



The victory sets the Blaugrana up for a clash against the winner of the Real Madrid vs. Mallorca semi-final, which will decide their opponent for the coveted Super Cup title.



Before the match, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/inaki-pena/">Iñaki Peña</a> was expected to start as Barcelona’s goalkeeper. The decision to replace him with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/wojciech-szczesny/">Wojciech Szczesny</a> raised eyebrows. The Polish keeper, who had previously started in Barcelona’s Copa del Rey match against Barbastro, was once again called upon by coach <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/hansi-flick/">Hansi Flick</a>. The reasoning behind this sudden change was unclear during the build-up, leaving fans speculating about the circumstances.



<h3>The Real Reason: Punctuality Matters</h3>



As the match progressed, the mystery unraveled. According to&nbsp;Cope&nbsp;journalist Helena Condis, Iñaki Peña arrived late to the team’s activation session at the hotel before the game. The incident, though minor, was enough for Hansi Flick to act decisively.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250108_WST_547840_Wojciech-Szczesny-athletic-club-1200x675_4d896e37.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="Wojciech Szczesny athletic club" class="wp-image-547843" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/08181144/Wojciech-Szczesny-athletic-club-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/08181144/Wojciech-Szczesny-athletic-club-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/08181144/Wojciech-Szczesny-athletic-club-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/08181144/Wojciech-Szczesny-athletic-club-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/08181144/Wojciech-Szczesny-athletic-club-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/08181144/Wojciech-Szczesny-athletic-club-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/08181144/Wojciech-Szczesny-athletic-club-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/08181144/Wojciech-Szczesny-athletic-club.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



Peña reportedly&nbsp;did not oversleep but miscalculated the time&nbsp;of the session. Flick, known for his strict approach to discipline, chose to enforce his rules by relegating Peña to the bench.



Flick’s stance on punctuality has been evident since his arrival at Barcelona. “If you arrive late, you don’t play,” Pedri once stated, reflecting the coach’s no-nonsense attitude. Jules Koundé had already faced similar consequences earlier in the season for arriving late to a meeting, reinforcing the German coach’s commitment to maintaining discipline within the squad.



For Szczesny, this marked his second appearance in Barcelona’s colors, following his debut against Barbastro in the Copa del Rey. Despite the unexpected circumstances, the Polish veteran proved reliable, keeping a clean sheet and contributing to his side’s victory.

Hansi Flick's bold move: Why did Wojciech Szczesny play for Barcelona in Spanish Super Cup instead of Iñaki Peña?

Hansi Flick's bold move: Why did Wojciech Szczesny play for Barcelona in Spanish Super Cup instead of Iñaki Peña? - World Soccer Talk

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen suffered a major knee injury during the side’s win at Villarreal. In first-half stoppage time, the German goalkeeper claimed a deep corner. Upon landing, Ter Stegen was grabbing at his knee, writhing in pain on the ground. There was no contact with any <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a> defender or Villarreal attacker. Regardless, Ter Stegen was unable to continue, and backup goalkeeper Iñaki Peña replaced him for the remainder of the game.



Requiring carts and an ambulance to exit the pitch, concern was high regarding Ter Stegen’s short- and long-term future. On Monday, Barcelona released a statement delivering unfortunate news for Barcelona’s goalkeeper and its fans. Marc-André ter Stegen suffered a <a href="https://x.com/FCBarcelona/status/1838161730070831279" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">full tear of his patella tendon</a>. That requires immediate surgery, which the club said will happen on Monday afternoon.



The injury and subsequent surgery yield a major loss for Barcelona. Marc-André ter Stegen will be out of the squad for as many as eight months. Liverpool defender Joe Gomez suffered a similar injury in 2020. That ruled him out of the Liverpool squad for over 230 days, and that was most of the 2020/21 season. Likewise, Ter Stegen will miss the rest of the 2024/25 campaign. Barcelona named Ter Stegen its captain ahead of the season after the departure of Sergi Roberto in the summer. 



In his stead, Iñaki Peña will take over the starting role between the sticks for Barcelona. A seasoned backup, Peña has been on standby as Marc-André Ter Stegen’s replacement for the better part of the last five seasons, including the current campaign. When Ter Stegen was healthy, Peña was on the bench. Only a half-season loan stint with Galatasaray stopped his streak of being the reserve goalkeeper. In that time on the bench, Peña made 23 appearances for Barcelona. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240923_WST_530698_ter-Stegen-stretcher-1200x675_608af54b.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-530706" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/ter-Stegen-stretcher-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/ter-Stegen-stretcher-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/ter-Stegen-stretcher-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/ter-Stegen-stretcher-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/ter-Stegen-stretcher.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Barcelona to miss Ter Stegen despite recent criticism</h2>



Marc-André ter Stegen has been instrumental in Barcelona’s side since coming over from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer of 2014. His start against Villarreal was his 420th competitive appearance with Barcelona in all competitions. Conceding fewer than one goal per game, the German has kept 175 clean sheets in those 420 games. Despite that record, Barcelona fans have slowly turned on their goalkeeper. 



Cheap giveaways and the occasional lack of commitment to saving shots have, on occasion, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/barcelona-outdone-by-self-sabotage-in-champions-league-opener/">cost Barcelona</a>. The fandom of the club blasted the goalkeeper on social media so regularly that he turned off comments on his social media platforms. Despite Peña being serviceable, Barcelona will soon realize just how important Ter Stegen is for the club. After the side’s next five games, it plays Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in back-to-back fixtures. Those high-scoring offenses will put immense pressure on Barcelona’s backline and goalkeeper. 



The injury does not mean Ter Stegen’s career with Barcelona is over. The German signed a contract extension in the summer of 2023 that holds Ter Stegen down with the club through the 2027/28 season. By that time, he will be 36 years old. He will not play any more games this season, but he figures to be important to Barcelona in the years to come.



PHOTOS: IMAGO.

Ter Stegen suffers season-ending knee injury in Barcelona win

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen suffered a major knee injury during the side's win at Villarreal.

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