The dilemma is set: Wojciech Szczesny or Iñaki Peña ? Trust in Ter Stegen's replacement or a free pass for the recent signing? Barça can't make a decision.
On Sunday 20 October Sevilla will be at Montjuic. Real Madrid and Bayern will be waiting for them. Barça needs to put an end to the hesitation about the goalkeeping.
Flick isn't Convinced by Iñaki Peña
Iñaki Peña's performance in Vitoria did not satisfy Hansi Flick, even though he managed to keep a clean sheet.
The German coach, who knows Iñaki Peña well from training sessions, where he performs to his full potential, felt that he lacked solidity, as if pressure had been affecting him.
He looked very nervous and didn't convey a sense of security to the defense. He conceded a goal, which was later voided by the VAR, appearing soft in the face of the rival shot.
He punched away the ball whenever he could've blocked it and at various times he gave off a sense of insecurity that the Barça goalkeeper can't possibly show.
Flick doesn't believe that Iñaki Peña is the ideal goalkeeper to replace Ter Stegen. And he prefers to count on Wojciech Szczesny as soon as he is fit to play, something that can happen with one more week of work.
Deco Prefers Iñaki Peña to Stay: His Credibility is at Stake
But the technical secretariat doesn't agree with Flick on the goalkeeping issue. Deco prefers that Iñaki Peña continue playing, leaving the Polish goalkeeper as an alternative.
Deco's position is logical. Iñaki Peña is part of the squad and his role is to cover any contingency that prevents Ter Stegen from playing. When the time comes, if he is considered unfit, his presence in the Barça squad will become more than questionable.
The substitute goalkeeper is there to act as a substitute and become a starter when the starter is not available.
And the club assumes that if Iñaki Peña is in the Barça squad it's because he is up to the task. Otherwise, he wouldn't be at Barça. You cannot have a player on your starting eleven that you don't trust.