National team Ter Stegen’s message to Neuer: “I’m number one”
Is the current number in the DFB team: Marc-André ter Stegen. photo
© Julian Stratenschulte/dpa
For more than a decade, Marc-André has been waiting to be in the DFB goal at a major tournament. Manuel Neuer always stood in his way. At the start of the European Championship season, he sees a “changed situation”.
Now or never? After eleven years as a national soccer player, Marc-André ter Stegen sees his best time in the DFB goal as coming – and finally at a big tournament. At the ripe old age of 31, the regular keeper of FC Barcelona really feels like a DFB leader for the first time at the start of an international season.
“Yes, I’m number 1 at the moment. I’ve waited a long time for this moment and I think I can use the moment,” said the former Gladbacher on Thursday in Wolfsburg, where he was with the national team on his 35th birthday. Prepared for use in the national jersey on Saturday (8.45 p.m. / RTL) against World Cup shock Japan.
While Manuel Neuer in Munich is approaching the long-awaited comeback in the Bayern goal ten months after breaking his leg, competitor Ter Stegen wants his DFB status in the important friendlies against the Japanese and even more so three days later in Dortmund against World Cup runners-up France consolidate with top striker Kylian Mbappé. “I will do everything to keep my status,” announced Ter Stegen.
Debut mid 2012
The eternal Neuer rival, who made his debut in the DFB team in May 2012 but has not played in a German goal at a World Cup or European Championship since then, sees himself in a new starting position compared to the past before the home tournament next summer. “The situation has definitely changed. Manu was the clear number one at the time,” Ter Stegen replied when asked about the time before the 2018 World Cup. Neuer was out for months after a metatarsal fracture, but then returned as a matter of course at the tournament in Russia back to the gate. The then national coach Joachim Löw did not shake the hierarchy, although ter Stegen had consistently performed well.
Ter Stegen does not expect the current head coach Hansi Flick to announce the goalkeeper for the European Championship or to confirm an advantage over rival Neuer. “The coach has no obligation to do anything,” said ter Stegen. Frankfurt’s Kevin Trapp and Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann complete the current DFB goalkeeper trio.
It will be exciting for ter Stegen if Neuer actually comes back in his old strength. Especially since Flick is a self-confessed Neuer fan. “I don’t know Manu’s current status,” said ter Stegen: “I wish him to get back to his level.”
Stegen enjoys the status quo
But he didn’t want to “waste energy” by thinking about what could happen after a new comeback. Ter Stegen enjoys the status quo, which counts for the eternal new challenger. “I’m in a position where I can play my games. I want to show my performance.”
The national coach observes the situation in a relaxed manner. “We have the fewest problems in the goalkeeper position,” said Flick recently. He is in exchange with Neuer: “I wish for myself and for the whole of football Germany that Manuel comes back as we all know him. Above all, I wish him the same.”
Flick’s plan to find a “core team” for the EM at the start of the EM season and have it brought in could help Ter Stegen. Positive results and a finally stable defense in front of him would be useful to strengthen his number one feeling. “We’re trying to get back on track as soon as possible,” he said of the much-needed mood swing after the June flops. He wants to prove himself as a support in goal: “It’s about fine-tuning.”
dpa
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