Hansi Flick Breaks Silence on Marc-Andre ter Stegen's Future as Goalkeeper Makes Stunning Recovery
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick made his position crystal clear regarding Marc-André ter Stegen's role at the club during Tuesday's press briefing, stating the goalkeeper will remain out of the first-team lineup.
Ter Stegen has fully recovered from the back operation he underwent in late July, which had created significant tension between the captain and his club.
Possibly frustrated by the arrival of Joan García as the new first-choice keeper without his input, the German goalkeeper stood firm and declined opportunities to depart. When his surgical procedure forced an absence regardless, Barcelona sought to utilize this period to register summer acquisitions they lacked the salary cap space for.
For this to happen, La Liga's medical board needed to classify Ter Stegen's injury as "extended-term," but the German withheld permission for his medical files to be shared, leading Barcelona to initiate disciplinary action and remove his captaincy until he cooperated. He eventually complied.
With Ter Stegen now fit again, questions arise about his position within the squad.
The straightforward answer is that his role is quite limited.
Flick remains open to utilizing Ter Stegen as a substitute goalkeeper, but that appears to be the extent of his opportunities, considering the manager's unwavering confidence in García.
"It's evident, Joan is my first-choice goalkeeper," Flick stated to the media on Monday, also confirming that Ter Stegen "might be considered" for the bench against Eintracht Frankfurt in this week's Champions League fixture.
With Wojciech Szczęsny secured on a second full-season deal in July, Ter Stegen dropped to third in the goalkeeper hierarchy, and local media suggest this ranking remains unchanged.
Flick Acknowledged Barcelona's Handling Errors in Ter Stegen Situation
During a German awards ceremony in August, Flick revealed it was always the club's intention for García to immediately take over as the primary goalkeeper, but admitted the club could have managed Ter Stegen's situation more effectively.
"In Joan García, we possess a very promising, skilled goalkeeper who performs at an exceptional standard. The collective decision was that he represents Barça's future. Therefore, our strategy was ultimately predetermined," Flick explained.
"Whether our communication [with Ter Stegen] has always been optimal... I believe there's significant room for enhancement. Including on my part.
"What matters to me is that Marc and the club have reconciled and have actively pursued dialogue. My priority now is Marc's return [from injury]. He's an elite goalkeeper! He'll receive complete support from us to help him perform at his peak level once more."
Whether Ter Stegen, who has never served as Germany's primary goalkeeper in a major international competition, will seize the chance to transfer in January to secure the playing time necessary to compete with Manuel Neuer for the national team's top position remains uncertain.