Hansi Flick’s Barcelona magic faces its biggest test yet after the devastating injury to Marc-André ter Stegen. The German coach has worked wonders with his team, incorporating young and inexperienced players into the lineup, but now he must conjure up a solution to replace his star goalkeeper.
Ter Stegen’s absence is a massive blow, and his deputy, Iñaki Peña, has shown in the past that he’s not up to the task of leading the team to victory. Peña’s statistics are concerning, having conceded 32 goals in 17 games across four competitions last season. His performances were a major factor in Xavi Hernandez’s eventual dismissal, and Flick’s staff will be well aware of his limitations.
The problem is that Peña lacks the distribution skills and ability to play as a “free man” sweeper at the back, which is crucial in Barcelona’s high defensive line. His agility and old-school save-making abilities are not enough to make up for his weaknesses.
Flick has a tough decision to make. Can he mentor Peña and help him improve, or will he need to look elsewhere for a solution? The German coach has shown faith in his young players, but this is a different challenge altogether. The team’s financial restrictions mean that they can’t simply go out and buy a new goalkeeper, so Flick will need to get creative.
One option is to turn to the youth ranks and give 20-year-old Ander Astralaga a chance. While he’s talented and confident, he’s still prone to errors and may not be ready for the pressure of first-team football. Other options, such as Áron Yaakobishvili and Diego Kochen, are either not ready or injured, leaving Flick with limited choices.
The rules on acquiring a new goalkeeper outside the transfer market are strict, but there are some candidates available, including Keylor Navas, Edgar Badia, Jordi Masip, and Tomás Vaclík. However, any solution will need to be carefully thought out, and Flick will need to work his magic quickly, with a crucial Champions League fixture against Young Boys of Switzerland looming.
The pressure is on, but Flick has shown before that he’s capable of producing something special. Can he do it again and find a way to replace Ter Stegen? Only time will tell.
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