Barcelona’s coach Hansi Flick has confirmed that Wojciech Szczesny will retain his position as goalkeeper for both Tuesday’s Champions League match and the upcoming “El Clasico” against Real Madrid. This decision comes despite Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s commendable performance in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over relegated Real Valladolid.
The win allowed Barcelona to maintain their lead at the summit of LaLiga, with second-half goals from Raphinha and Fermin Lopez turning the tide after the hosts initially took the lead. Ter Stegen showed impressive form following a seven-month layoff.
“We’ll assess Marc’s situation; he performed well today, but Szczesny will be our goalkeeper for the Champions League and against Real Madrid,” Flick told the media.
The German manager made nine changes to his starting eleven for the encounter against Valladolid, with the Champions League fixture and next weekend’s clash against Madrid on the horizon, raising concerns about player fatigue.
“I’m not disappointed. Making that many changes is a challenge for the players, especially given their youth. I have faith in them. With a lot of rotation, the performance levels can vary,” Flick explained.
“I was able to rest several key players while giving others vital minutes on the pitch. It wasn’t without its difficulties. There were a few mistakes and rapid transitions, but (Ronald) Araujo and (Andreas) Christensen had solid performances, along with Ter Stegen,” he added.
Even though his team was behind at half-time, Flick expressed satisfaction with their display. He praised Raphinha and suggested that Fermin Lopez could be in line for a starting position against Milan: “He’s a player with a great chance to start. He’s capable of playing in various positions.”
“Our aim is three points, and I’m pleased that we achieved it. Mission accomplished,” Flick concluded.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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