Barcelona will be without goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen for several months due to injury, but coach Hansi Flick expressed confidence in Inaki Pena as a capable replacement. Ter Stegen underwent successful surgery on his right knee after experiencing a complete rupture of the patella tendon during Barcelona’s 5-1 LaLiga victory against Villarreal on Sunday. Reports indicate that he could be sidelined for a minimum of eight months.
Flick praised Pena, stating, “Inaki is doing very well, in pre-season too. He has worked very hard to be here. He is focused and ready to play.” As so far this season, Barcelona has made a strong start under Flick, securing six consecutive wins that place them at the top of LaLiga, four points ahead of Real Madrid.
Pena, who joined Barcelona’s La Masia academy at the age of 13, has made 23 first-team appearances, allowing 39 goals but managing to keep five clean sheets. Despite injuries to several key players including new signing Dani Olmo and midfielders Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, and others, Flick believes in the team’s young defenders.
Looking ahead, Flick mentioned his intention to consult with Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, who has extensive experience coaching elite goalkeepers. The former Bayern Munich boss is focused on further improving the team’s performance, noting that there are many areas for enhancement despite their successful start.