Soccer News Soccer Match Reports, Football News
Tomorrow afternoon will be a special occasion for Barcelona youngster Inaki Pena as he is set to make his first appearance of the 2023/24 season when the Catalans face Rayo Vallecano.
Pena, who made his first-team debut for the Blaugrana last season, has had to stay in the shadows of Marc-Andre ter Stegen and bide time for his opportunity to arrive.
And, it has finally come after the German international was ruled out of Saturday afternoon’s clash vs Rayo due to a back issue, with Pena now all set to start in goal at Estadio de Vallecas.
Pena backed by former Galatasaray coach
Heading into the game, there will be pressure on Pena, more so considering that Barcelona had not been in the best of moments prior to the international break.
But the La Masia graduate has been backed to do well when he steps out against Rayo Vallecano by Domenec Torrent, his former manager at Galatasaray.
It must be remembered that Pena spent the second half of the 2021/22 season on loan at Galatasaray, where he worked under Torrent, the former assistant manager of Pep Guardiola at Barcelona.
And ahead of his first appearance of the season, the 24-year-old goalkeeper has received a stamp of approval from Torrent, who said on Catalunya Radio: “I have no doubt he’ll do well.
“He goes well up top, because although he is not very tall, he is very brave when he comes out, he has very good timing and he is a cat in goal.”
Recalling Pena’s stint at Galatasaray, Torrent added: “He gave a lot of calm and even changed the team’s game because of his good ball control. At Galatasaray, he was under a lot of pressure and he was up to the task when he played.”
“He deserves to do well and I have no doubt that he will do well,” Torrent concluded.
Source link : https://barcauniversal.com/barcelona-youngster-backed-to-do-well-vs-rayo-vallecano-by-former-manager-i-have-no-doubt/
Author : Michel Durant
Publish date : 2023-11-24 20:13:14
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
