When FC Barcelona faced the severe injury of their priority keeper, Ter Stegen, speculations were raised as to who would lead the keeping role ahead. Being left with prodigy keeper Inaki Pena, the club decided to sign veteran star Wojciech Szczesny as a replacement. Although it wasn't clear who would be Barca's first choice, the way Pena has performed since then has been commendable.
El Clasico hero believes he has become braver than ever in his role
While the 25-year-old, having played only around 20 games for the senior team before, had a shaky start in the role, Pena's recent performances have been spectacular. Having conceded a single goal against the high pressing attack force of Bayern Munich and managed a sensational clean sheet in the El Clasico, Pena stood solid between the sticks, playing a crucial role in Barca's dominating ways.
As expected, his brilliant performances against two of the best European clubs consecutively have given much-needed confidence to the prodigy star. Speaking recently, Pena mentioned the improvements he has felt in his playstyle, saying,
""I feel that I’m making good decisions and that I’m braver than ever. Honestly, I’ve never felt at this level of bravery, and it’s all because of playing with the high defensive line.""Inaki Pena
Having registered 4 clean sheets in the La Liga campaign, just in his 6 appearances so far, Pena seems to have found the much-needed rhythm he struggled for in his initial games. While certainly, Barca boss Flick's continuous trust in the La Masia graduate proved vital, support from veteran keeper Szczesny worked miraculously the way the club wanted.
When FC Barcelona had decided to sign the former Juve star, they hadn't guaranteed him whether he would be the starter or not. While certainly, for some, it may seem misleading, for the Blaugrana club, it has worked perfectly, as Szczesny's presence in the locker room has managed to push Pena to his limits, making him earn his role in the playing XI. Mentioning the role of the 34-year-old veteran keeper in his recent displays, Pena mentioned,
""Szczesny is a spectacular person. The first day, he started talking to me and said he didn’t come to compete with me, that the only competition I have is with myself, and that surprised me.""Inaki Pena
Overall, with Barca's ace prodigy Inaki Pena finally performing to his true potential, FC Barcelona has turned one of their speculated weak links into their strength. The Blaugrana club fans would hope that the 25-year-old further improves going forward, playing a crucial role in the club's quest for major titles this season.