Marc Andre Ter Stegen has been a very capable goalkeeper for FC Barcelona, and will be starting his tenth season at the club when the 2023-24 La Liga campaign starts on Sunday.
The German is one of the most important components in Xavi’s lineup and is also a leader of the team, as he is the second captain after Sergi Roberto. The keeper reflected on his time at Barcelona since coming in 2014 from Borussia Monchengladbach in a recent interview, which has been reported by Mundo Deportivo.
The goalkeeper provided his perspective on how he felt when he left the German club to join one of the biggest clubs in the world and identified one major problem he faced with this move:
“There have been ups and downs. I was leaving a team that was my home until that moment I left. In the beginning, it was obviously very difficult for me. Especially due to the language issue, not only in the football context.”
For all his time in Barcelona, Ter Stegen has been one of the best goalkeepers in La Liga, and this was the case also in the last season when he won the Zamora trophy after keeping 26 clean sheets. Reflecting on this achievement, the keeper commented:
“I think we have never even come close to these figures, but the goal is always to keep a clean sheet or play a good match. We hope to achieve something similar in the coming years. For me, it’s better to win 1-0 than 5-4.”
A number of veterans left the Catalan club this summer, including Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, who were two of the Barcelona captains last season. Ter Stegen has been chosen as one of the captains for this season, and he also brought this responsibility up in the interview:
“Being part of the four captains we have is something that fills me with pride. It’s an honor to wear the armband.” Additionally, the Barça goalkeeper stated that he is also here with the goal of being a role model for the young players. “I’m here to help the youngsters and the team in whatever is needed, and also to be an example or someone who is closely connected to Barça.”
Two other Barcelona captains, Sergi Roberto and Frenkie de Jong recently commented in an interview that the big task ahead for Barcelona was to win the Champions League. However, Ter Stegen was undecided on which trophy between La Liga and the Champions League he prefers to win:
“The beautiful thing is to keep winning titles. In the last two years, we didn’t live up to the Champions League, and this is a challenge for this year.”
Lastly, the goalkeeper concluded his interview by mentioning three of his favorite goalkeepers currently playing the game:
“The three best goalkeepers in the world? Courtois, Ederson, and Remiro.”
Although Ter Stegen has been playing extremely well and has bailed out Barcelona on a number of vulnerable situations, this year will see him have an added responsibility as he has been named one of the Barcelona captains.
Barcelona fans will be hoping to see him improve even further in his tenth season at the club, and make it a memorable one for everyone associated with the Catalan giants.
