Marc-André ter Stegen is getting closer to achieving what was initially considered impossible. After suffering a serious knee injury at the end of September and undergoing surgery that was expected to keep him out for eight to nine months, it was assumed he would miss the entire season. However, the German goalkeeper has worked tirelessly and now feels ready to return to competition in May, when the most decisive matches of the season will take place.
According to information from the Catalan newspaper “Sport”, this unexpected recovery has altered some plans within the team. It has become clear to everyone in the dressing room that Ter Stegen is determined to reclaim his place. Despite Barcelona signing Wojciech Szczęsny as his replacement, the Polish goalkeeper now knows that he will have to fight for his spot in the crucial matches ahead.
In recent weeks, optimism has been growing within Barcelona regarding the German goalkeeper’s return. Four and a half months after the operation, Ter Stegen has begun working with the ball on the pitch again, a sign that his recovery is progressing better than expected.
From within the dressing room, the message is clear: Ter Stegen is determined to return and compete for his spot as the first-choice goalkeeper. He has already informed the coaching staff that he will be ready for the important matches in May, including the final five La Liga games, the second leg of the Champions League semi-final, and potentially the final if the team reaches it.
Barcelona is proceeding cautiously, as the final stage of Ter Stegen’s recovery is the most delicate. While it’s one thing to give the green light to a player, it’s another to actually include him in the lineup. The question now is whether Hansi Flick will choose to reintegrate Ter Stegen after such a long period out of action.
The example of Thibaut Courtois may offer some guidance in this case. The Belgian goalkeeper for Real Madrid also underwent surgery at the start of the season but made his return in time for the decisive matches. Barcelona believes that Ter Stegen could follow a similar path.
Ter Stegen’s return would directly impact Wojciech Szczęsny, who stepped in as the German’s replacement during the winter transfer window. While Szczęsny has been a regular starter and performed well in recent games, he now knows his position is under threat. Ter Stegen has made no secret of his intent to regain his starting spot and has already communicated this to coach Flick. The German manager will now face the difficult decision of whether to continue relying on Szczęsny or restore Ter Stegen to the starting lineup for the crucial upcoming fixtures.