After Advancing to the Copa del Rey Semi-Finals… Barcelona Trio Asks Hansi Flick to Give Iñaki Peña Another Chance

Barcelona secured a resounding 5-0 victory over Valencia in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, earning their place in the semi-finals alongside Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, and Real Sociedad. However, while the team celebrated their triumph, an unexpected development stirred tension within the squad.

According to reports from the Spanish outlet “El Nacional”, Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Raphinha approached Hansi Flick after the match with a special request—they urged him to reinstate Spanish goalkeeper Iñaki Peña into the starting lineup. The trio expressed their belief that Peña deserved another chance, having seemingly fallen out of the German coach’s plans.

The roots of this issue trace back to the Spanish Super Cup, when Peña was excluded from the squad after arriving late to a pre-match team meeting against Athletic Bilbao. Following that incident, Flick made a decisive change, opting for Wojciech Szczęsny as his first-choice goalkeeper. Since then, Peña has been sidelined, even in the Copa del Rey, despite putting in solid performances earlier in the season.

During the post-match celebrations, Peña appeared distant, choosing not to join in the team’s festivities. His frustration was evident, knowing that despite his strong performances, he had been completely overlooked. Yamal, Pedri, and Raphinha took notice of their teammate’s disappointment and decided to take action.

The trio approached Flick and voiced their concerns, stating, “We want him to play again because he deserves this opportunity.” Their backing of Peña reflects the respect he commands within the squad, as many players feel his contributions warrant more recognition.

While Szczęsny has been outstanding in goal, Peña had delivered impressive displays earlier in the season, proving himself a reliable shot-stopper. His supporters within the team argue that he has done enough to at least be considered for rotation, rather than being completely frozen out.

With Barcelona advancing to the semi-finals, the debate over Peña’s role in the squad is heating up. Will Flick reconsider his decision and hand Peña another chance, or will he stick to his current pecking order? For now, the young goalkeeper can take solace in the fact that some of Barcelona’s biggest stars are fighting for him.

All eyes are now on Flick’s next move—will he grant Peña redemption, or will the goalkeeper remain on the sidelines despite his teammates’ plea?