On the move with Barça on the Benfica lawn, Wojciech Szczesny delivered a mixed performance and he explained himself at a press conference.
Author of some blunders who cost goals at Barça, goalkeeper Szczesny believes that it was the Hansi Flick game system that was fatal.
“I have never played with such a high defensive line. Wenger demanded a lot from the goalkeeper, but here the players are so far from me. Even at 37, you can still learn. It’s a great experience ”he said before adding:
“I did not expect to play yesterday, but my goal is to help the team, whether on the field or on the bench”. As a reminder, Szczesny had to shorten his retirement to come and carry a hand at Barça following the injury of Ter Stegen.
For the Barça goalkeeper, the important thing was the victory
Faced with Benfica, the Polish goalkeeper made two hazardous outings that cost his club two goals. The first led him to tackle his own defender Alejandro Balde. This allowed Pavlidis to score for an empty goal.
“I think I reacted well, but Balde did not hear me. Fortunately, it was just a goal and we ended up winning. It was a misunderstanding, these are things that happen when the two players fight for the ball.
-I shouted, he didn’t hear me. It was a bit comical, but we ended up winning ”he swung in his discharge before making his mea-culpa concerning the penalty caused.
“On the third goal, on the field, I thought there had been no contact. But after seeing the idle, it is a penalty. I recognize my error on this ”.
Everything was not to throw for the Polish goalkeeper against Benfica. At the end of the meeting, Szczesny made parades in particular against Di Maria who allowed the Barça to stay in the meeting. While observers thought he had caught up, Szczesny believes that not.
“The judgment against Di Maria was not a redemption. It was frustration and my way of helping while we were pushing for victory and defending with only 2 players. We could have accepted 4-4, but we wanted victory. It is the culture of Barça ”he concluded. Note that Barça had been led 4 times, but was able to find the resources necessary to win the match on a score of 5 goals to 4.
