Barcelona told Wojciech Szczesny will need ‘three or four weeks’ of training to be ready for first-team action
Barcelona have been told that goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny will need “three of four weeks” to return to full match fitness after coming out of retirement.
The goalkeeper is set to sign for Barcelona this week and join Hansi Flick’s squad after Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s devastating injury.
Jacek Rutkowski, who was the goalkeeper’s first coach at Agrykola Warszawa, has spoken to Polish outlet Fakt about the move and how long it will take the 34-year-old to get back up to speed.
“Although 34 is not an age for a goalkeeper, Wojciech will certainly need three or four weeks of training to get back to his pre-retirement condition. The muscles and tendons have been used to being exercised over the years and functioned differently when he did nothing,” he said.
“He needs to restore them to their ‘factory state’. One thing I am sure of: Wojciech will not be in goal if he is not sure he is ready. He is coming back to reinforce and defend Barça in a few games. He will surely not allow himself to go out on the field on his debut if he is not 100% convinced of his performance.”
The coach also admitted he’s not at all surprised to see Szczesny back in action despite hanging up his boots in the summer
“I expected Wojciech wouldn’t last long without the ball. After a while he would miss the adrenaline, the dressing room, the high-risk matches and he would come back.
It actually happened very quickly, but name me one player who would turn down Barcelona’s offer? Wojciech probably assumed he would end his career at Juventus. Now that Barca have approached him it’s no wonder he was tempted. Besides, Barcelona is more than just a club. It’s a legend, magic, a way of life.”
Szczesny arrived in Barcelona on Monday and is expected to watch the team’s Champions League clash with Young Boys tonight. He could debut for the club after the next international break.
