Flick Confirms Szczęsny as Barcelona No. 2

Hansi Flick has confirmed that Wojciech Szczęsny remains Barcelona’s second-choice goalkeeper despite the Polish goalkeeper’s costly error against Racing Santander.

Szczęsny was unexpectedly introduced at half-time during Barcelona’s 7–2 victory over Racing after first-choice goalkeeper Joan García suffered discomfort following a slip shortly before the break. The substitution was made as a precaution.

However, Szczęsny endured a difficult return to competitive action. With Barcelona leading 4–1, the 36-year-old attempted to control the ball under pressure inside his area but was dispossessed by Yassir Zabiri, who scored Racing’s second goal.

The mistake immediately raised questions over whether Flick would reconsider his goalkeeper hierarchy, particularly with summer signing Dominik Livaković also available.

Flick, however, dismissed those suggestions.

Asked whether Szczęsny would continue as the No. 2 goalkeeper or whether Livaković could now get an opportunity, the Barcelona manager made his position clear.

“No, we've already decided that because Szczęsny is our second-choice goalkeeper,” Flick said.

The German coach also defended Szczęsny, stressing that mistakes are part of football and that the goalkeeper immediately understood the difficult situation he had put himself in.

Flick said Barcelona conceded another unnecessary goal but insisted the team must focus on reducing such mistakes rather than allowing them to affect their confidence.

“For me, it’s all about concentration,” Flick said, stressing that players must remain fully focused throughout every second of a match.

Livaković, who joined Barcelona during the summer, therefore remains behind Szczęsny in Flick’s current goalkeeping hierarchy.

The decision is particularly notable because Livaković was widely expected to compete for the No. 2 role after his arrival, but Flick has now publicly reaffirmed his trust in the experienced Polish goalkeeper.