Wojciech Szczesny made his first start for Barcelona this season in the 2–1 win over Real Sociedad, but the veteran goalkeeper downplayed any celebrations after the match, insisting his joy was overshadowed by concern for injured teammate Joan Garcia.
Softfootball reports that the 35 years old Polish goalkeeper admitted that returning to Barca’s starting XI could have been a reason to smile, but he didn’t feel comfortable doing so. Earlier this week, Barcelona confirmed the injury of new signing Joan Garcia, who has since successfully completed his surgery.
The goalkeeper is expected to be sidelined for a period of up to six weeks, leaving Barcelona with Wojciech Szczesny in between the sticks. However, having Szczesny as the goalkeeper has worked well for Barcelona in the past and this is backed up by statistics.
Having the international break during Garcia’s recovery period certainly helps alleviate the impact of his absence, but he’s still expected to miss crucial fixtures such as the upcoming Champions League against PSG and El Clásico against Real Madrid next month.
After Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Real Sociedad, Wojciech Szczesny addressed the media, but his words carried little celebration. As reported by Fabrizio Romano via his Facebook page, the veteran goalkeeper admitted that despite finally making his first start of the season, he couldn’t fully enjoy the moment. Szczesny explained that his happiness was overshadowed by concern for teammate Joan Garcia, whose injury cast a shadow over the night. The post reads:
Szczesny: I can’t be HAPPY, even now that I’m playing… after my teammate Joan Garcia got INJURED.
Recall that when Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered an injury about a year ago, it was Szczesny who stepped up to compete with Inaki Pena and eventually became Barcelona’s number one. Included in Hansi Flick’s first squad on October 20, Szczesny waited patiently before making his debut on January 4, 2025, in the Copa del Rey against Barbastro.
From there, he quickly became a key figure, starting in the Spanish Super Cup and making his La Liga debut on January 26 against Valencia. His impact over the second half of the 2024-25 season was remarkable. Szczesny made 30 appearances across all four competitions, recording 24 wins, four draws, and just two defeats. Both defeats came in the Champions League away to Borussia Dortmund and Inter.
Domestically, his numbers were even more impressive. In La Liga, he helped Barcelona win 14 of 15 matches, drawing the other. In the Copa del Rey, he oversaw four victories and one draw, while in the Saudi Arabian Super Cup he delivered a perfect record with two wins out of two.
Overall, the veteran goalkeeper played a key role in helping Barcelona secure the domestic treble. Now, with Pena out on loan and Garcia and Ter Stegen sidelined, it is time for the former Arsenal man to step up once again.
