Barcelona star reflects on his much awaited debut – ‘I feel happy and relieved’ | OneFootball

Wojciech Szczesny made his highly anticipated debut for Barcelona in their Copa del Rey clash against Barbastro, marking his first competitive appearance with a clean sheet.

The Polish goalkeeper’s signing was announced three months ago to provide cover for Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, and the match against Barbastro was the perfect opportunity for him to showcase his skills.

The match turned out to be much less challenging than expected. Barbastro did not put up the same fight as last season, leaving Szczesny with few moments of action.

Perfect game for Szczesny

Despite this, he managed to impress with his composed performance. He was rarely tested, with his most notable save being a long shot that he held onto securely.

He also displayed his quick reflexes with an effective clearance just before the break.

His passing was solid, completing 20 of 22 passes (91% accuracy), along with two successful long balls out of four attempts. It was a confident, if uneventful, debut that left a positive impression.

While it was not the toughest test of his abilities, Szczesny’s performance was still one to be pleased with, especially given the pressure of making a debut for such a prestigious club.

Speaking after the game

He expressed his satisfaction after the match, acknowledging the importance of a solid debut and the relief that came with it.

“I feel happy and relieved. It’s one of those games in which you don’t want to make a mistake in your debut and you want to approach the game with the right attitude,” he said as quoted by SPORT.

The goalkeeper also praised his teammates for their role in making his job easier, as their solid defensive play prevented Barbastro from creating many opportunities.

“I was excited for my debut and the way they played has made my job a lot easier,” he added.

For Szczesny, the debut was the ideal start to his Barcelona career. As every goalkeeper knows, keeping a clean sheet in your first match is a dream come true.

While the real challenges lie ahead in La Liga and the Champions League, Szczesny’s performance was a promising start