BARCELONA goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has revealed that he has “lost his battle” with smoking in an open interview.
Szczesny has earned the nickname ‘Szczesny fumador’ [smoker Szczesny] from fans since signing for Barcelona this summer.
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The 35-year-old shot-stopper has had a season to remember between the sticks for Barca, after a spectacular retirement U-turn that saw him return to the pitch just days after calling it quits.
But despite the light-hearted chants from his new supporters, Szszesny has warned against the dangers of his negative habit.
Speaking to ESPN, he said: “There are some parts of the game where I believe I can be a perfect example for young people or, in fact, for my teammates.
“And there are some things in my career that you better not follow. In a few aspects, I fail at [being an example], but I try to be the best version of myself, and I try to give the correct example to my teammates, to young kids who watch us.
“But mentioning the subject of smoking, please do not follow me and don’t do it. I’ve lost the fight.
“When I was very young, I created a habit that is very negative for me, and I know it is. I just lose against it. So for anybody watching: Don’t do what I did.”
His smoking habit landed him in hot water back in 2015 during his days at Arsenal‘s No.1.
Szczesny was accused of smoking in the showers after a 2-0 defeat to Southampton, a match in which he was at fault for both goals.
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The Polish international was slapped with a £20,000 fine and was dropped for their next game.
Discussing that incident in the past, he said: “Back at that time I was smoking regularly and the boss [Arsene Wenger] knew it very well.
“He just didn’t want anybody smoking in the dressing rooms and I knew that also.
“Because of the emotion of the game, I had a cigarette after the game when the team was still in.
“I went in the corner of the showers, so it was at the other end of the dressing room and nobody could see me, and I lit one up.
“Somebody saw me, it wasn’t even the boss himself, and just reported it back to the boss. I saw him a couple of days later, he asked me if that was true and I said, ‘Yes’. He fined me and that was the end of it.
“He then said, ‘Look, you’re going to be out of the team for a little bit’ but there was no big bust-ups or big confrontations. I was very professional about it.
“I was fully expecting to be back in the team a few weeks later but we had a good run of form and David Ospina, who came in goal, played really well for those few games. He stayed in.
“That meant I was waiting and trying to win my place back in the team, or trying to convince him that I was still the best goalkeeper at the club by going out on loan. That sounds strange but sometimes it’s the best way of doing it.”
