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Barca’s Flick downplays prospect of former Real Madrid keeper Szczesny joining after Ter Stegen set to miss rest of season
Inaki Pena replaced injured goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen during Barcelonas match with Getafe CF at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on September 25, 2024. — AFP pic

BARCELONA, Sept 26 — Barcelona have started the La Liga season with seven straight wins but manager Hansi Flick said he still sees room for improvement following yesterday’s 1-0 victory over Getafe.

Barca took an early lead through Robert Lewandowski and dominated proceedings with almost 80 per cent of possession and 16 goal attempts.

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Yet they wasted numerous opportunities to win by a wider margin, while the visitors almost scored an equaliser from a counter attack in the dying moments.

Barca have 21 points at the top of the league standings, four ahead of rivals Real Madrid in second.

"To get seven wins is perfect, but we have to do some things better. Today we had a very good mentality. For me it’s a good starting point to improve,” Flick told reporters.

"I’ve been told that it’s always like that against Getafe, they are very good in defence, but I’m very proud of my players and how they fought for 95 minutes.”

Flick praised stand-in goalkeeper Inaki Pena and refused to discuss Spanish media reports linking Barca with Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

Szczesny, 34, has reportedly agreed to come out of retirement to join the Catalan giants, after Germany international Marc-Andre ter Stegen underwent knee surgery on Monday and is expected to miss the rest of the season.

"I only speak of the players we have in the team. Inaki Pena is our number one goalkeeper and I’m happy. This is what it’s worth,” Flick said.

"We have Inaki Pena who is 25-years-old but the rest of the goalkeepers are very young, so if something happens we have to have experience.” — Reuters

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