Inaki Pena, Barcelona’s home-grown talent, waited years for his big break. After Marc Andre Ter Stegen‘s injury in September, Pena finally had his moment, only to find himself sidelined again. Reports claims that the young goalkeeper is going through some tough emotional times. After the heated conversation with Flick last week, is this the beginning of the end for Pena at Barca?
Does Inaki Pena Deserve Better? Situational Analysis
Pena played many minutes in the first half of the season, and it seemed that Flick’s first choice would be the 25-year-old. However, for the past month or so, Flick has made Szczesny number one in the pecking order, and this makes us think, does Inaki deserve more? Pena’s performances, whenever given a chance, have been pretty good.
Some critics claim that Pena leaked many goals in Barca’s November-December series of defeats, while others claim Flick only gave Szczesny time to get back in shape. Whatever the matter, Pena now finds himself on the fringes. If the Catalans did not believe in him, why did they keep him instead of loaning him earlier?
Has Hansi Flick Already Given Up on Inaki Pena?
Flick has made it clear to Inaki Pena that he is unlikely to win his spot back, and Wojciech Szczesny is the number one choice as a starter. Hansi Flick is known for his structured and disciplined approach, and Pena’s attitude has not convinced the German. The goalkeeper reportedly lacked punctuality, which initially made Flick choose Szczesny over him in the Super Cup.
But was this enough to completely write him off? While some analysts claim this as the main reason, I believe there is more to it. Flick had always had Szczesny in mind to be the starter sooner or later. Therefore, this might be a losing battle for Inaki.
Wojciech Szczesny Over Pena : A Step Forward or a Step Back for Barca?
Barcelona’s decision to sign Szczesny in October raised questions, considering the Pole had just announced retirement. But, considering the options the Catalans had then, it seemed like an “okay” decision. Szczesny is a safe short-term option and an upgrade to Pena.
However, by playing Szczesny over Pena, Barca will miss out on an excellent opportunity to develop Pena. The player had quite a few opportunities to start playing under Ter Stegen, and after Stegen’s injury, Pena finally got the chance to grow and experience.
This situation shows another viewpoint of the Catalans; the club never had Pena in their plans. Even after a few convincing performances, Inaki Pena never got the belief from Barca that he deserved.
Inaki Pena might be at a crossroads. Will he stay and fight for the spot? Or will he seek a club that genuinely values and believes in him? Only the future will answer these questions. As for now, let’s hope Szczesny delivers at the most crucial stage of the season.