Being a backup goalkeeper is one of the most frustrating roles in football, for it is almost a guarantee of fringe minutes year after year with minimal career growth.
With Wojciech Szczesny covering that position this season, Barcelona are fortunate to have a player who is ready to embrace that role and happens to be in the right stage of his career for the same.
Concurrently, however, the club also have young talents hoping to break into the first-team squad who cannot quite understand the rationale behind accepting a fringe role at an early stage in their career, and understandably so.
The Diego Kochen case
As reported by Catalunya Radio recently, Barcelona have complete faith in their 20-year-old goalkeeper Diego Kochen and see him as an asset for the future.
However, the USMNT player and the club disagree on his immediate future, bringing a rift between the two parties and opening the door to an uncertain future.
Diego Kochen of FC Barcelona
Barcelona have confidence in Kochen. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
The Catalans currently have doubts about Kochen being prepared to assume the role of the first team’s backup goalkeeper and feel he needs more experience under his belt before he is given such assurance.
At this moment, they do not see him as prepared to replace Joan Garcia in case of any injury or setback. Barcelona, thus, hope for him to be the third-choice goalkeeper.
But Kochen prefers going out on loan if he is not given the second-choice position in the first team, as he feels his stage with Barça Atletic has come to an end.
A difficult decision
As it stands, Kochen can only secure the role of a third goalkeeper in Hansi Flick’s plans, and even if he does accept the same, the future does not look promising.
With Joan Garcia arriving last summer and given the performances he has been delivering, it goes without saying that the player is here to stay in the long run as Barcelona’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Diego Kochen of FC Barcelona
Kochen is currently third-choice behind Garcia and Szczesny. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Szszesny, too, is set to stay for one more year, meaning the second-choice spot will also be covered for next season.
A loan move, thus, might make sense for Barcelona and Kochen, although the player must also consider his prospects in the long run, considering Garcia will carry on as the team’s No. 1 for years to come.