“We wanted to give him the chance”
©IMAGO
DFB goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen secured a narrow cup victory on his comeback for FC Barcelona after more than half a year. After recovering from a back injury, coach Hansi Flick called the 33-year-old into the starting line-up for the arduous 2-0 (0-0) win at third division club CD Guadalajara.
Ex-Bundesliga professional Andreas Christensen (76th minute) headed the Catalans’ rotation team into the lead late in the third round. Shortly afterwards, Ter Stegen, who had little to do for a long time, was there twice and made strong saves. Marcus Rashford decided the game (90th).
“These games are not easy,” explained Flick after reaching the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. “I’m happy with the attitude of my players on the pitch. That’s the key to our victory. It’s not always easy to score in games like this, but we did it.”
Ter Stegen’s future at FC Barcelona remains open
But Ter Stegen’s future remains unclear. Flick emphasized again before the game that Joan García, who was given a break, was his regular goalkeeper. “Marc is the captain and has played a lot of games. We spoke to the other coaches and wanted to give him the chance to play,” the 60-year-old later added.
Ter Stegen is actually considered the planned number one for the German national team for the World Cup next summer (June 11th to July 19th). To do this, he has to gain match practice, as national coach Julian Nagelsmann repeatedly emphasized. “Marc either has to assert himself in Barcelona or find a club where he can play,” Nagelsmann explained recently. His representative in the DFB team, Oliver Baumann, has been convincing in recent months. A possible comeback by Manuel Neuer has been debated again and again, at least in the media.
According to media reports, the financially troubled Spanish champions want to get rid of Ter Stegen in order to save his million-dollar salary. Whether the ex-Gladbach player leaves the club in the winter is his decision, emphasized Flick. Ter Stegen last played for Barça on May 18th in the game against Villarreal FC (2:3). The goalkeeper then played for Germany in the Nations League finals before he had to have back surgery in preparation. He had already been out for a long time last season due to a torn patellar tendon.