The Barcelona star reflects on his long-awaited debut: “I feel happy and relieved”

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

The signing of the Polish goalkeeper was announced three months ago to provide cover for Marc-André Ter Stegen, and the match against Barbastro was the perfect opportunity for him to demonstrate his qualities.

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 match for Szczesny

Despite this, he managed to impress with his composed performance. He was rarely tested, and his most notable save was a long shot that he grabbed safely.

He also showed off his quick reflexes with an effective clearance just before half-time.

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

🤳 Tek after the game: pic.twitter.com/bzdyzIM4dd

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) January 4, 2025

While not the toughest test of his abilities, Szczesny’s performance was worthy of satisfaction, especially given the pressure of making his debut for such a prestigious club.

Talking after the game

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

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

The goalkeeper also praised his teammates for 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 career at Barcelona. As every goalkeeper knows, keeping a clean sheet in the 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.