Ter Stegen’s misfortune: his serious injury is confirmed

The worst is confirmed for Marc André ter Stegen. At a time when he had achieved his long-awaited captain’s armband, and was making his debut as first choice after the departure of Sergi Roberto. At a time when he conquered the goal of the German national team after Manuel Neuer’s definitive resignation at 38 years of age. At a time when Ter Stegen, who always advocated non-competition, had no rival between the Barcelona sticks – he erased Claudio Bravo from the Camp Nou in 2016. When all his wishes had been fulfilled, Ter Stegen was a victim of the moment. This Monday his fifth knee injury since 2015 was confirmed, and his third operation since 2020 and 2021. Now he will see how Iñaki Peña returns to take over the goal due to his injury, waiting to see if Barcelona goes to the market for another goalkeeper, although in a complicated economic context. Ter Stegen, against Monaco in the Champions League, was the one largely blamed for the defeat and for going against the tide with 10 players for the entire match due to Eric García’s expulsion. A bad omen of what was to come, this past Sunday against Villarreal, when he broke his knee in the 46th minute. After examinations, the worst was confirmed: a complete tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee, as confirmed today by Barça. Due to the urgency, the German will undergo surgery this afternoon, and everything points to him missing the season.

After ten years as a Barça player, doubts have piled up on Ter Stegen due to accumulated errors. In Monaco, he failed with his characteristic footwork, and in 10 minutes the whole match went wrong. The German goalkeeper rushed, risked a pass to Eric García, who was under great pressure, and ended up being sent off. “I feel sorry for Eric, we didn’t understand each other,” the German simply said. To his right was Pau Cubarsí, and to his left was Iñigo Martínez, both of whom were unmarked. He made six saves, and conceded two goals, but missed 16 passes, with a 70% success rate. And the long balls were hunted down by Monaco. After the heavy defeat, the fans looked for someone to blame, and the press said: “Fatal error”, “Ter Stegen shipwreck”, “With a bad foot”, headlined some sports media on the front page. Faced with criticism, the goalkeeper closed the comments on his Instagram. This season, there has only been one game in which he has not conceded, against Valladolid. But the German’s great weakness has always been the Champions League: in 85 games in the top European competition he has conceded 99 goals. Always strong in the league, but unreliable on special occasions in the Champions League.

The only Champions League title in his trophy cabinet is from his first season as a Barça player – 2014/15 – when he shared the goal with Chilean Claudio Bravo. But Ter Stegen never wanted competition. Bravo was in charge of protecting the goal in the League, and Ter Stegen in the Cup and the Champions League. But the German warned: without more prominence, he would leave the club. Barcelona let Bravo go in 2016. Since then, he has only had substitute goalkeepers at his side. And his great obsession has been the captaincy: this year he has made his debut as the first player to wear the armband after Sergi Roberto left the club.

The opposite is true for the German national team. Always second in command to Manuel Neuer, he has not played a single minute in the Euros or World Cup, only in qualifiers, and has only participated in around 40 games for the national team – most of which were when Neuer was out due to injury – compared to more than 120 for his teammate. Before the Euros, Ter Stegen showed his weariness, describing his role in the national team as “very disappointing”, saying that he does not “agree” and that he felt “frustrated”. “I told the national coach that one thing is sporting and another human. I want them to be able to trust me”, Ter Stegen said at the time.

After his injury, Barcelona have two options: sign or trust Iñaki Peña. The 25-year-old already had to take over the goal last year for more than two months after the German had back problems. In the 17 games he played, he conceded 32 goals, coinciding with his starting role at a bad moment for the team in which the defence was disorganised and rumours about Xavi’s departure were increasing. If they consider the option of going to the transfer market, they can only count on free goalkeepers right now, that is, those who are not part of any team. The options are few: Jordi Massip – who was already at the club -, Keylor Navas, Edgar Badia, among others. All in a complicated economic context for FC Barcelona.

Although Hansi Flick, in the press conference after the match – which ended in victory, although grey due to the loss of Ter Stegen – did not want to talk about replacements yet. Precisely because of the sensitive gap left by the goalkeeper. Because of his position, the importance of his footwork in Barcelona, ​​his hierarchy and Flick’s advanced defence that leaves the goalkeeper more unprotected. He also joins an infirmary full to the brim – just like last season at this point – with another seven players out. Some of them are in great need, such as Dani Olmo, who also has to be registered after December 31 to ensure his continuity. Also the recent tear of Marc Bernal’s left knee, while Barcelona continues to wait for the return of Gavi and Frenkie de Jong, which is getting closer. Araujo, Fermín López and Andreas Christensen are also not available. If they do not sign and lose Peña, Flick will have to – as he is more than used to – look to La Masia. In the reserve team, the goalkeepers are Ander Astralaga (20 years old) and the promising American Diego Kochen (18 years old), who is still out for a month due to a muscle injury.

Ter Stegen’s injury is unfortunate for him, who sees all his wishes come true after a bad fall. But it is also unfortunate for Barcelona, ​​who are working against the clock to find the best solution.