After more than half a year, Marc-André ter Stegen was allowed to guard the FC Barcelona goal again. Despite good reviews, his future remains open.
Marc-André ter Stegen could be satisfied. The national soccer goalkeeper fulfilled his duty during his long-awaited comeback in the FC Barcelona goal. Six months before the World Cup, the 33-year-old finally got some match practice again in the arduous 2-0 (0-0) draw against third division club CD Guadalajara in the Spanish Cup and kept a clean sheet.
“For me, Marc is the captain. It was a good opportunity for him, he gave a lot to the club,” said coach Hansi Flick. However, he made it clear that ter Stegen “just this one game” will finish as number one. Flick had rested goalkeeper Joan Garcia and put nominal number two Wojciech Szczesny on the bench.
For the first time since May 18th, Flick relied on Ter Stegen again. At that time, the DFB keeper had stood between the posts in the 2-3 league defeat against FC Villarreal before he had to undergo another operation on his back.
Good reviews for ter Stegen
Ter Stegen received praise for his performance from the Spanish press. The newspaper “Mundo Deportivo” called Ter Stegen’s performance “attentive”, the newspaper “Sport” commented: “Although he didn’t have much to do, he showed that he is still a technically skilled goalkeeper who likes to take risks and always tries to play the ball out from the back.”
Captain ter Stegen was only seriously tested for the first time against the defensive outsider in the 79th minute. Shortly before, Andreas Christensen, like Ter Stegen once at Borussia Mönchengladbach, had given Barcelona the lead with a header (76th minute), Marcus Rashford made the final score (90th).
Barcelona’s goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen in action
Does ter Stegen change in winter?
Regardless of the comeback, there are question marks behind ter Stegen’s future in Barcelona. The keeper has already been told that the club would like to sell him. Because national coach Julian Nagelsmann requires match practice with a view to the World Cup, there has been repeated speculation in recent months about a winter change for Ter Stegen. His contract with Barca runs until 2028.
“It’s his decision whether he stays or goes,” Flick said on Monday and Ter Stegen said one at the same time “fantastic” Goalkeepers and people called: “I respect him a lot, I’ve talked to him about it, he’s also an asset to the team. He decides, not me.”