Barcelona manager Hansi Flick confirms reason behind Wojciech Szczesny’s absence against Alaves | OneFootball

La Liga leaders Barcelona make the trip to Alaves on Sunday afternoon for their MD9 fixture – they will do so without the services of new signing Wojciech Szczesny, despite him being available to play after his registration was confirmed earlier this weekend.

Szczesny was not included in Barcelona’s matchday squad for Alaves, with Ander Astralaga and Aron Yaakobishvili being the two goalkeepers to accompany current number one Inaki Pena in making the trip to Vitoria. As per MD, Hansi Flick explained the omission during his pre-match press conference.

“He’s in very good shape, but unfortunately he won’t travel to Vitoria because I think he needs more time to be with us and after the break he’ll be ready and an option.

“For his experience, for his character and for his quality, having Szczesny is very good for the club. When I spoke to him I thought he was a very friendly person, he said that he would contribute in any way he could to the team and I was impressed. He will contribute a lot of things.”

It means that Szczesny’s first opportunity to start for Barcelona will be against Sevilla in two weeks’ time, and there’s no doubt that he will fancy his chances of taking the starting goalkeeping spot from Inaki Pena at the first time of asking.