Barcelona’s management was reportedly left shocked and confused by Hansi Flick’s decision to start Marc-André ter Stegen against Guadalajara, a move that potentially undermines the club’s plan to move the veteran keeper on in January.
Internal tensions have surfaced at FC Barcelona following Hansi Flick’s decision to start Marc-André ter Stegen in the Copa del Rey victory over CD Guadalajara.
The move reportedly caught the club’s management and executive team off guard, as the prevailing internal assumption was that Wojciech Szczęsny would be given the nod.
The shift from the expected plan has caused significant “surprise and confusion” among those overseeing the club’s long-term sporting strategy.
The shock within the hierarchy stems from a desire to provide clarity regarding the goalkeeping hierarchy.
With Joan García viewed as the preferred long-term number one, the club had hoped to limit Ter Stegen’s minutes to encourage him to explore a transfer in the upcoming January window.
By starting the veteran German, Flick has potentially complicated the club’s efforts to facilitate an exit, as the goalkeeper may now push for continued tournament involvement.
While Hansi Flick downplayed the decision as being specific to the Guadalajara match, club officials remain wary of Ter Stegen’s persistent character and influence.
Management fears that providing the veteran with a “sporting reason to stay” contradicts their current objective of transitioning the squad.
As the January window approaches, the goalkeeping situation at the Spotify Camp Nou is being monitored closely to see if Flick’s selection was an isolated event or a tactical shift.