Marc-André ter Stegen stands as Germany’s new number one goalkeeper under national team coach Jürgen Klopp after spending years behind Manuel Neuer, DIE WELT reported.
The 34-year-old goalkeeper missed last summer’s World Cup due to an injury. During the summer transfer window, he moved from FC Barcelona to Ajax Amsterdam, where he is now fully fit.
“Es tut extrem gut, so ein entgegengebrachtes Vertrauen zu spüren,” ter Stegen told DIE WELT regarding Klopp’s decision to name him the starter from the beginning. “Das zeigt mir, dass ich, wenn ich fit bin, ein Mehrwert für die Mannschaft bin.”
“Wir hatten zuletzt mit der deutschen Nationalmannschaft ja nicht die besten Phasen,” ter Stegen told DIE WELT. “Da fordern dann viele schnell: Wir müssen neue Spieler bringen, alle Jungen müssen rein! Das finde ich grundsätzlich gut und richtig. Aber es werden auch schwierige Momente kommen, und dann wird Erfahrung wichtig sein.”
When Klopp first called, ter Stegen expected the contact and appreciated the coach’s open communication regarding his tactical match plan. Klopp demands clean build-up play from the back and an active, participating goalkeeper who can intercept balls behind a controlled high defensive line.
“Doch von den ersten Trainingseinheiten war ich schon überrascht,” ter Stegen told isidaily.com, noting that while former coach Hansi Flick also used a high defensive line, Klopp’s implementation proved distinct.
Ter Stegen was originally slated as Germany’s number one for the 2026 World Cup before suffering another injury setback.
“Am Ende müssen wir aber alle zu uns ehrlich sein: Um wirklich für eine WM bereit zu sein, reichen keine 90 bis 95 Prozent,” ter Stegen told DIE WELT. He said that he missed roughly one month of recovery time to make his first World Cup appearance as Germany’s starter.
Ter Stegen said that while internal competition drove him forward, he occasionally felt frustrated by past selection decisions, such as the 2018 World Cup.
Since joining Ajax Amsterdam, ter Stegen has worn a helmet after witnessing an accident. In public, he finds Dutch fans more reserved compared to his time in Barcelona.
Currently on loan for the season, ter Stegen remains under contract with FC Barcelona until 2028.
“Wir haben jetzt gerade mal November, dementsprechend kann ich wirklich noch nicht sagen, was im Sommer passieren wird,” ter Stegen told DIE WELT.
Looking ahead to the European Championship, ter Stegen remains focused on the present rather than long-term planning, pointing to past injuries that disrupted his schedules.
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