Barcelona’s hero in their amazing Champions League win over Benfica was undoubtedly Wojciech Szczesny. The goalkeeper had an incredible, [record-setting night](https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2025/3/6/24378810/wojciech-szczesny-sets-champions-league-record-for-barcelona-against-benfica) in between the sticks, and was the biggest reason why the 10 men of Barça were able to leave Lisbon with a crucial one-goal advantage ahead of next Tuesday’s second leg.
The Pole had to wait his turn after coming out of retirement but was given the job at the beginning of the new year, and Hansi Flick’s decision to make Szczesny the number one goalkeeper over Iñaki Peña was controversial to say the least at the time.
But Szczesny has more than proven he was the right man for the job, and his coach was full of praise for his performance in Lisbon in a press conference on Friday and revealed the process behind making the decision to make Tek the starting shot-stopper.
> “He’s fantastic. The other players were defending 10 against 11 and he helped us a lot. It’s his job. There’s no hiding it. He does his job very well and that’s why he’s number 1 now.
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> “When you see players in training, you have feelings. I discuss them with my team, I see how the players work and the performance they can give. It was clear to everyone that Szczesny could reach this level. It was clear to all of us. I make the decisions, but I discuss them with my technical team.”
No one is debating whether Flick made the right decision anymore. Szczesny is the clear-cut number one goalkeeper, and he might give Marc-André ter Stegen a run for his money next season too if he decides to stick around and sign a new contract.