Hansi Flick has said goalkeeper Inaki Pena was dropped for Barcelona’s Supercopa de Espana semi final victory over Athletic Club because it was the third time he was late for a team meeting.
25-year-old Pena has established himself as Barca’s first-choice goalkeeper after Marc-Andre ter Stegen was ruled out for the rest of the season in September with a knee ligament injury.
Barca signed free agent Wojciech Szczesny following Ter Stegen’s injury, but Pena had played in 19 matches with the Catalan club planning on playing Szczesny during their Copa del Rey campaign.
34-year-old Szczesny started in the Copa del Rey win over Barbastro but was retained for Wednesday’s win over Athletic Club, with head coach Flick saying that Pena did not play over lateness, with no guarantees of selection ahead of Sunday’s final against Real Madrid.
“You know I never talk about the starting eleven and I’m not going to,” Flick said on Saturday ahead of the final.
“We have a good game and Inaki played a fantastic first half. In Spain there is a different mentality. On the outside everyone talks. Everyone is a professional. These are special matches and you have to be prepared.”
Flick added of playing Szczesny over Pena on Wednesday: “It’s the third time they (Pena and defender Jules Kounde) are late.”
Barcelona have won the Supercopa 14 times, more than any other club, but were defeated 4-1 by Madrid in last season’s final.
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