Barcelona’s Polish goalie, Wojciech Szczesny, is set to stay as the first choice in the Champions League and Copa Del Rey despite big mistakes in the previous match. Fans have debated that this is too much risk as the 34-year-old has not made good decisions during his brief stay at the pitch this season.
Let’s analyze the implications of relying heavily on Szczesny across two competitions.
Szczesny’s Performances so Far
Wojciech Szczesny has had a brief run as the Barca goalkeeper this season, with one game in the Champions League and two in the Super Cup. Interestingly, the Pole has a 100% win record in these three games, but some significant issues have been seen with the veteran’s playing time so far.
He has made key errors in critical moments in the match against Benfica and even got a red card in the Super Cup final. The veteran has not been near impressive and has an average match rating 6.7. Still, Hansi Flick has shown faith in the Polish national and declared him the starter in two major cup competitions.
Why Has The Pole Struggled?
I think Szczesny’s unimpressive displays in these few matches are due to several reasons. Most culers might believe the 34-year-old is past his prime and has come out of retirement. He’s not as effective as he used to be and may have gotten rusty by not getting much play time.
I, on the other hand, totally think otherwise. I believe Szczesny is fully fit to play for Barca and is by no means rusty. The veteran shot-stopper is only two years older than MATS, and 34 is nowhere old enough for a goalkeeper.
The problem why the Pole has struggled so far is due to Barca’s high line and playing style. The player is constantly forced to sweep crosses and balls by running out of his box. This is a style that Szczesny is not accustomed to, especially as a team like Juventus has always been compact and defensively low-block. On the other hand, Szczesny has shown good shot-stopping prowess, decent passing, and agility in regular goalkeeper gameplays.
SzczEsny’s Role: Trust vs. Performance
So, even in high-stakes matches, Flick has continued to trust Szczesny despite occasional mistakes. This trust in him might suggest a longer-term strategy that extends beyond these past three matches.
An in-depth look at this decision of confidence is necessary to understand. Why? Because it reflects Flick’s coaching staff’s belief in Szczesny’s potential or an unwillingness to disturb the squad’s unity. Flick might be looking to extract the best out of the Pole, as an over-reliance on a young and inexperienced Inaki Pena might backfire in the season’s final stages.
Szczesny’s performances have not been ones to replicate. But Flick has still entrusted a responsibility upon the Pole’s shoulder. As this season, which might be the last of the Pole’s career, comes to an intense second half; Wojciech Szczesny will look to make the most out of it and end on a high. Both, Barcelona fans and Flick, expect more from the veteran.