Munich (dpa) – National soccer goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has come to terms with the fact that he will once again be number 2 behind Manuel Neuer at the European Championships in June. “In my personal case there is just this one position. You can’t come in there for ten minutes to make the difference,” said the 29-year-old FC Barcelona goalkeeper in an interview with Sport1.
“People know that I will always be there when I am needed. I will be prepared for this moment,” said Ter Stegen. For the European Championship finals with three DFB group games in Munich, he announced: “I will take responsibility on and off the pitch. I wish Manuel that he remains injury-free.”
For Ter Stegen, it will be the third major tournament as a substitute goalkeeper after the 2016 European Championships and the 2018 World Cup. Only when he won the Confederation Cup in 2017 was he number 1. National coach Joachim Löw had done without numerous top players like Neuer at the tournament in Russia.
The former Gladbacher ter Stegen has to hope for the time after the European Championship and the change of national coach. Bayern goalkeeper Neuer is 35 years old. “Now the EM is coming up first, but of course I’m already thinking about what will happen afterwards. Everyone thinks there is a chance that the cards will be reshuffled,” said Ter Stegen: “Then it is up to each individual to decide whether or not they want to Team plays or not. In my case it’s the same. I want to prove myself to the national team through the club. “
The 61-year-old Löw stops working as a national coach after the European Championships. The favorite to succeed is Hansi Flick (56), who will leave Bayern at the end of the season. “Hansi Flick had an unbelievable year and a half as head coach at Bayern. When he comes to the DFB, few people will be able to tell him anything. Because he did a great job with Bayern. If he came back to the DFB, he would feel like home again come. I’m curious what happens, “said ter Stegen.
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