Marc-André Ter Stegen may be starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The German goalkeeper could return to the squad with the Barça team in tomorrow’s duel against Eintracht Frankfurt, as stated by Hansi Flick in the press conference prior to the match.
In fact, that was the word the coach used: could. However, he is also clear that today he is not the team’s starting goalkeeper. Joan García is aheadand surely Wojciech Szczesny also has more sporting weight in the squad today.
Ter Stegen does not play an official match with Barça since last May 18, when they faced Villarreal in a League that was already decided and with the team as champion. On July 29, the goalkeeper underwent surgery to solve his lower back problems. Now he has had several training sessions in the team discipline. This Monday he took the field along with the team’s other two goalkeepers.
Unlike in recent weeks, none of the Barca reserve team’s goalkeepers who had been called up in the previous matches have trained. Despite Ter Stegen’s upcoming return, Flick has reiterated that Joan García is his starting goalkeeper by emphasizing that “he is number one” in goal of the Barcelona team.
When asked if he has spoken with the Germany coach, Julian Nagelsmann, to discuss Ter Stegen’s situation, The Barcelona coach has denied it. Beyond Ter Stegen’s doubt, Barça will face the duel against Eintracht with the only casualties of midfielders Pablo Páez Gavira ‘Gavi’ and Dani Olmo, both injured, and center back Ronald Araujo, who is recovering from mental health issues.
Last August, player and club had a major disagreement. At the moment, Ter Stegen has one of the highest figures in the squad, which is a problem for Barça’s coffers. Furthermore, the goalkeeper wants to hurry up the last options of going to the World Cup in the United States, for which he needs a few minutes that he is not having… and it seems difficult for him to have them in this team. A winter outing cannot be ruled out.
