The previous six months have been nothing wanting a whirlwind for Wojciech Szczesny. Having introduced his retirement in the summertime, the 34-year-old veteran determined to make a U-turn and signal for Barcelona as a substitute for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen in September.
After having spent the primary three months of his stint with the Catalans on the bench, the previous Juventus and Arsenal shot-stopper made his debut in January this 12 months and has since gone on to ascertain himself as Hansi Flick’s most popular alternative in purpose.
In a latest interview with Barça One, Szczesny mirrored on his journey thus far at Barcelona and the way Ter Stegen has been a serious assist in his early months on the membership.
On his Barcelona debut
Szczesny made his Barcelona debut within the Copa del Rey conflict towards minnows UD Barbastro, away from residence. Speaking about how he dealt with the strain main up to date, he mentioned:
“It’s very totally different from once I was youthful, there’s all the time that degree of uncertainty in regards to the consequence, about how the sport goes to go, since you need to do your finest, you don’t need to embarrass your self. However there’s no stress.
“I feel there was just one recreation in my life the place I used to be actually harassed and that was my first recreation with the nationwide group at Euro 2012 and I ended up getting despatched off. That’s once I realised that stress is just not my buddy.
“So now I don’t really feel stress. I’m not harassed, it’s only a little bit of adrenaline that lets you keep centered and provides your finest.”
Reminiscing the sport the place he made his maiden look towards Barbastro, the 34-year-old famous:
“‘It was unusual due to the ambiance of the sport, the pitch, the stadium. We’re speaking about Barbastro, it’s not the way you think about your first recreation with Barça. In Barbastro, on a horrible pitch. However I used to be centered.
“I attempt to focus by meditating earlier than the video games and did the identical towards Barbastro and Actual Madrid. It doesn’t change.”
Persevering with, he added: “The one factor that was particular about it was that it was my first recreation for Barça, however there have been much more feelings after the sport as a result of I used to be capable of placed on this shirt for the primary time.”
Szczesny has turn into the first-choice goalkeeper at Barça. (Picture by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Photos)
Szczesny then touched upon his first El Clasico look, which got here within the Spanish Tremendous Cup closing in Saudi Arabia, saying:
“The reality is that will probably be fairly disappointing for you. ‘I’ll be sincere with you: I anticipated to be a bit nervous as a result of it was a Clasico, a giant stage and a cup closing.
“However most likely subconsciously, realizing that stress is just not buddy of mine, I used to be extra centered than harassed.”
On Ter Stegen
Szczesny additionally spoke about his relationship with Ter Stegen, the person he has changed within the squad presently, saying that the Barcelona captain has been a giant assist for him.
“He’s been an excellent assist: even earlier than I signed he despatched me a message saying that if I wanted him he was there for no matter I wanted,” mentioned Szczesny.
Relating to the German worldwide’s restoration from damage, which is progressing very nicely, Szczesny added:
“I’m very glad to see that his restoration goes very nicely. So all the things could be very pleasant: there’s no competitors as a result of there can’t be proper now, I simply hope he comes again and helps us as quickly as potential so I can calm down a bit (laughs).”
On how meditation helps him
The veteran goalkeeper additionally mentioned intimately how he practices meditation earlier than matches and the way it helped him whereas stunning a couple of of his teammates.
“I really feel comfy meditating within the locker room in entrance of everybody. The reality is that I don’t thoughts,” he mentioned.
Recalling a humorous anecdote, he said: “I had a humorous state of affairs with Ter Stegen: he instructed me that his son had come into the dressing room earlier than the sport and everybody was doing their factor and I used to be meditating. And he mentioned, ‘Dad, why is Szczesny sleeping?’”
Szczesny has not misplaced a single recreation with Barcelona but. (Picture by David Ramos/Getty Photos)
Persevering with, Szczesny added: “However nothing, I’m fairly comfy. It truly helps me as a result of there’s a number of noise round me and I can swap off from that noise and be in my head. I don’t want the silence to meditate.”
Touching upon how individuals react to him meditating, he remarked:
“I do it typically on the bus on the way in which to the match. Many individuals don’t know what I’m doing they usually most likely take a look at me for the primary time and assume: what’s occurring? Not a lot of them have the braveness to ask me what I’m doing.
“However some teammates up to now have requested me and I’ve defined it to them. I haven’t seen anybody do it with me nevertheless it’s actually very helpful.”
On his errors
Quickly after he began enjoying for Barcelona this 12 months, Szczesny went on to make a slew of errors on the sphere, elevating considerations about his suitability within the facet.
However the veteran star famous that he doesn’t let it have an effect on him and stays centered on being level-headed by way of good and unhealthy moments.
“That’s the half that helps me probably the most: being very current within the second and seeing the state of affairs as it’s,” he mentioned.
“So I don’t thoughts errors an excessive amount of, regardless of how unhealthy they appear. I’m not depressed by the large errors, I’m not too glad in regards to the huge moments both. I’m by no means in a state of euphoria, however I let myself get pleasure from it when the video games are over,” Szczesny concluded.