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Ter Stegen was the biggest talking point of Barça's trip to Guadalajara. Breaking everyone's predictions, the German keeper started the first Copa del Rey match of the season and guarded the goal at the Pedro Escartín stadium. This was the first time Ter Stegen had played for Barcelona since May. He played in the Nations League for his country in June, but hadn't played for the club in months. And his return wasn't in some easy-peasy match—it was Barça's first round of the Copa against a Primera RFEF team. The news that the German keeper was starting shocked both reporters and fans. Everyone thought Szczesny, who played in the final last season, would get the nod for the first Copa match. This game was actually a crucial test to gauge the hierarchy of Barça's keepers. Since Juan Garcia is the undisputed starter for the league and Champions League and has massive trust from the club and Flick, the big question was who the second option would be. The answer in Guadalajara was Ter Stegen. But his selection wasn't accidental, spontaneous, or based on the German keeper demanding it, or Flick just making a unilateral decision. There were a few reasons why Ter Stegen guarded Barça's goal at Pedro Escartín. First, Flick decided he was fully ready to play. The German manager saw that his mate was mentally prepared and willing to compete for the spot. Plus, Flick heavily considered that Ter Stegen is the team captain.

Flick explained after the match: 'For me, Marc is the captain. This was a good opportunity for him, and he has done a lot for this club. We decided on his inclusion for this match after talking with the coaching staff. Only for this match. I am satisfied with the players' attitude and the win. These games are never easy. The important thing is that we advanced to the next round.'

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The decisive meeting: But there was a separate, crucial factor. A three-way meeting held just hours before the match. Szczesny, Stegen, and Flick were all there. Even though Juan Garcia traveled to Guadalajara, he wasn't at the meeting. During this talk, Polish keeper Szczesny signaled to Flick that he should pick the German keeper. He explained that considering Ter Stegen's status as captain and his long absence due to injury, it was right for him to play. Essentially, he stepped back and sorted the situation out. Flick saw the Polish keeper's action as the attitude of an excellent teammate. The club management also positively evaluated Szczesny's attitude and Ter Stegen's starting spot. It's an open secret that Ter Stegen has a high salary and that Barcelona might look to transfer him in the future. In that context, Ter Stegen getting playing time, performing well, and keeping a clean sheet was great news, not just for the player, but also for Barcelona in terms of 'market value.' Szczesny has repeatedly stressed that his role is to contribute whenever the coaching staff needs him. This veteran keeper is no longer obsessed with the ambition of having to start every game. He doesn't plan to make an issue out of Juan Garcia starting or Ter Stegen playing in certain matches. In that sense, he's expected to be a fantastic 'club guy.'

The meeting that changed everything: Originally, Flick planned to start Szczesny. But the three-way meeting right before the match changed everything. This decision satisfied the German keeper, was viewed positively by club officials watching from the stands, and was also a logical choice for the manager himself. After observing the conversation between the two keepers, Flick reached the most rational conclusion and gave Ter Stegen his first appearance of the season. Flick emphasized once more after the match that this starting decision did not change the goalkeeper hierarchy and was a choice made solely for this game. Now the task remaining is to watch how Flick manages the complicated puzzle that is Barcelona's goal lineup this season.

Source: Fútbol | El gesto de Szczesny que dio la titularidad a Ter Stegen en Guadalaraja en partido de Copa del Rey