On the Foot Truck YouTube channel, an interview with Wojciech Szczęsny was published, in which the goalkeeper discussed his decision to return to football and his transfer to Barcelona. The Polish player highlights the incredible series of circumstances that allowed him to join the Catalan club. However, he clearly states that there are no guarantees of playing time and that he has to earn his spot.
**Return:** “This situation surprised me a lot, including my final decision. If you’d asked me the day before Ter Stegen’s injury, I would have been convinced that there were no conditions that would make me return to football. And a week later, here we are, enjoying the Catalan sun.”
**Lewandowski’s influence:** “Not much, I mean, sure, he called me, but it’s hard for me to say. I think the decision would have been similar even if Robert wasn’t here. Of course, he tried to convince me, and in the end, he succeeded. I don’t know how much of it was due to him or some kind of strange destiny.”
**First contacts and decision:** “The first call was from Robert after a match. Deco also called very quickly. At first, I didn’t know if I would agree. I never said ‘no,’ but I had to mature into this decision. I think my family had the biggest influence. I retired against their wishes and didn’t want to make another huge decision within a month. My family was very positive about it and just encouraged me.”
**Preparation:** “Two weeks later, Ter Stegen’s injury would have happened, and I wouldn’t have gotten off the couch. I had one last chance, where I felt I was still able to prepare to play at a high level.” [Szczęsny didn’t want to specify when he would be ready to play – editor’s note.]
**El Clásico:** “I don’t know how much time I’ll need to return to the goal. I also don’t have any guarantees that I’ll be the number one here; at the moment, I’m definitely not, and I won’t be next week either, because I need some time. If the coach decides I’m needed, I could step into the goal tomorrow, but I doubt he would decide that [laughs]. There are no guarantees of playing in the starting lineup in football. First, you have to earn it, then you have to keep it. I’m aware that I might as well lose this competition.”
**Challenge:** “I see this as a fun challenge to prove to myself that I can do it. Having in my CV that I played for Barça for nine months is better than being on vacation. If I decided to do this, I want to do it at a high level, to be proud of myself. I’m not expecting anything. God willing, Iñaki Peña will play great, and there will be no need to change the goalkeeper. I just want to prepare as quickly as possible and give the coach the conditions to succeed. I’m aware that I’m a retired goalkeeper who came to Barcelona, and I know I’ll need time.”
Szczęsny also admitted that he won’t return to the Polish national team and that he’s only coming out of retirement for one year. We encourage you to listen to the entire interview with Barcelona’s new goalkeeper, where he also answered questions from Łukasz Wiśniowski, Tomasz Włodarczyk, and Mateusz Święcicki. Szczęsny also touched on topics like playing with his feet, playing at Camp Nou, and his conversations with Ter Stegen.
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On the Foot Truck YouTube channel, an interview with Wojciech Szczęsny was published, in which the goalkeeper discussed his decision to return to football and his transfer to Barcelona. The Polish player highlights the incredible series of circumstances that allowed him to join the Catalan club. However, he clearly states that there are no guarantees of playing time and that he has to earn his spot.
**Return:**
“This situation surprised me a lot, including my final decision. If you’d asked me the day before Ter Stegen’s injury, I would have been convinced that there were no conditions that would make me return to football. And a week later, here we are, enjoying the Catalan sun.”
**Lewandowski’s influence:**
“Not much, I mean, sure, he called me, but it’s hard for me to say. I think the decision would have been similar even if Robert wasn’t here. Of course, he tried to convince me, and in the end, he succeeded. I don’t know how much of it was due to him or some kind of strange destiny.”
**First contacts and decision:**
“The first call was from Robert after a match. Deco also called very quickly. At first, I didn’t know if I would agree. I never said ‘no,’ but I had to mature into this decision. I think my family had the biggest influence. I retired against their wishes and didn’t want to make another huge decision within a month. My family was very positive about it and just encouraged me.”
**Preparation:**
“Two weeks later, Ter Stegen’s injury would have happened, and I wouldn’t have gotten off the couch. I had one last chance, where I felt I was still able to prepare to play at a high level.” [Szczęsny didn’t want to specify when he would be ready to play – editor’s note.]
**El Clásico:**
“I don’t know how much time I’ll need to return to the goal. I also don’t have any guarantees that I’ll be the number one here; at the moment, I’m definitely not, and I won’t be next week either, because I need some time. If the coach decides I’m needed, I could step into the goal tomorrow, but I doubt he would decide that [laughs]. There are no guarantees of playing in the starting lineup in football. First, you have to earn it, then you have to keep it. I’m aware that I might as well lose this competition.”
**Challenge:**
“I see this as a fun challenge to prove to myself that I can do it. Having in my CV that I played for Barça for nine months is better than being on vacation. If I decided to do this, I want to do it at a high level, to be proud of myself. I’m not expecting anything. God willing, Iñaki Peña will play great, and there will be no need to change the goalkeeper. I just want to prepare as quickly as possible and give the coach the conditions to succeed. I’m aware that I’m a retired goalkeeper who came to Barcelona, and I know I’ll need time.”
Szczęsny also admitted that he won’t return to the Polish national team and that he’s only coming out of retirement for one year. We encourage you to listen to the entire interview with Barcelona’s new goalkeeper, where he also answered questions from Łukasz Wiśniowski, Tomasz Włodarczyk, and Mateusz Święcicki. Szczęsny also touched on topics like playing with his feet, playing at Camp Nou, and his conversations with Ter Stegen.