“We will always be there for him”
Ter Stegen’s absence: Nagelsmann deeply shocked
23.09.2024, 15:03
Julian Nagelsmann is hit hard by the injury to goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen. Both in sporting and human terms. The national coach is keeping his fingers crossed for his number one’s comeback. Now he has to decide on a new number one.
Julian Nagelsmann and Rudi Völler have expressed their deep sympathy for the serious knee injury suffered by regular goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen. “The news of Marc’s injury was a huge shock for us. We will miss him a lot in the national team, both on and off the pitch. We wish Marc all the best for the operation and a good and speedy recovery. We will always be there for him on his way back!” said the national coach after ter Stegen’s diagnosis.
The goalkeeper of FC Barcelona and the national football team suffered a tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee and will probably be out for several months after an operation scheduled for today.
Rudi Völler also reacted with sadness to the news from Spain: “I am very sorry for Marc. I wish him the fastest possible recovery, all of us in the national team are firmly by his side on the road ahead to his comeback. Marc has had to cope with a number of setbacks in the course of his career. I am convinced that he will come back stronger this time too,” stressed the DFB sports director.
Who will replace ter Stegen?
DFB goalkeeper coach Andreas Kronenberg explained: “This is very bitter news. Marc is an important support for both FC Barcelona and the national team. He will now find this support in his family, the club and the national team. We wish Marc a lot of strength and a speedy recovery. That is the most important thing now!”
Ter Stegen sustained the injury in Barça’s league match against Villarreal on Sunday. Nagelsmann named him the “clear number one” in the national team following Manuel Neuer’s retirement. The 32-year-old had to wait a long time for this promotion, given Neuer’s career in the DFB jersey.
Nagelsmann has not yet commented on a possible replacement for ter Stegen. However, he will have to make a first decision soon. The next games in the UEFA Nations League are scheduled for the beginning of October. The national coach wants to name his squad for the games in Bosnia-Herzegovina (October 11) and against the Netherlands (October 14) as early as next week. Without his “clear number one”, the goalkeeper question is now completely open again in the coming weeks.
In addition to a possible return of Neuer, there is also speculation about Hoffenheim keeper Oliver Baumann, who was the third goalkeeper at the European Championships. With Alexander Nübel, who will turn 28 next Monday, Nagelsmann could also build a possible alternative to ter Stegen. Other candidates such as Kevin Trapp, Bernd Leno or the young Freiburg player Noah Atubolu would be a big surprise.