Marc Andre Ter Stegen is currently one of the veteran players in the FC Barcelona squad. The German goalkeeper, and second captain of the team, has been with the Catalan club for ten years now, and has been a part of some historical events in the club’s history, including winning the treble in 2015 and losing 8-2 against Bayern Munich.
The keeper appeared in an interview with a German Magazine recently, which has been reported by Mundo Deportivo, in which he reflected on his time at the club.
Learning from difficult moments
Remembering the difficult moments that Barcelona faced during his time at the club, the German commented:
“Both were very significant (the Champions League victory and the 8-2 loss). The one against Bayern was very painful, but it was crucial for personal growth. The moment is so tough that you have to step up and move forward. If you don’t, you’re not suited for a team like Barcelona. And we had players who did just that: they grew in that situation.”
Ter Stegen believed it was these difficult moments that actually allowed him to learn and grow:
“You have to be there in the tough times because, in the good times, everyone can step up. It’s natural. But to be there in the difficult moments, you have to have gone through bad experiences. You can trust in delicate situations.”
Further commenting on this topic, he believed that it was only experiences like these that allowed players at the highest level to lead, and despite their talent and potential, young players still need such experiences to be able to lead:
You can’t expect Gavi or Pedri, who are very talented but have spent little time with the team, to lead in a difficult moment. In five years, it will be different. We’ll talk about players of a different caliber. Look at the case of Frenkie de Jong. He has already gone through tough times, and it’s those moments that we need to step up.”
Learning from victories and developing
It is not only in painful defeats but also in sweet victories that players learn and grow, the German expressed, as he gave another example from his Barcelona career:
“The Spanish Super Cup (where Barcelona eliminated Real Madrid in the semifinals) was very important for us, especially for the young players. It allowed them to experience winning a final under a lot of pressure, and they will know how to adapt for the next one.”
Lastly, he also gave an insight into how he has been able to develop his game over the years:
“I really did the same as always. We’ve worked in the same way with Dela (Barcelona’s goalkeeping coach). There are good moments and not-so-good moments in a player’s career. What’s important is that the overall trajectory is upward.”
Thus, there is a lot of wisdom in Ter Stegen’s words, which should be taken up by the younger players in the squad. As the German himself commented, there is no doubt about the talent and potential of these players. But to become the very best players in the world, they will still have to pass through these good and bad times and come out even stronger after each setback.
