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Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been at Barcelona for ten years now and with Sergi Roberto not being renewed he is set to become the first captain for the next season.
Ahead of what will be a crucial season for the Catalans, under new manager Hansi Flick, Ter Stegen insisted that they are ready to compete for titles, after failing to win anything in the campaign gone by.
“I think the team is ready to fight for titles… We started with great enthusiasm and I am convinced that we have a good squad to compete. It is going to be a very long season and we all want to compete for titles,” he said in an interview with ESPN.
Reflecting on his time at the club, the goalkeeper added: “Well, yes, it’s been ten years and I’m very happy with the experience. You learn and evolve as a person and a footballer and if I take away anything it’s that I’ve learned a lot during this time.
“It has been, and is, a unique experience. Everything Zubizarreta told me when he signed me has come true.”
On Hansi Flick
Ter Stegen and Barcelona are under new management this season with Hansi Flick taking over the reins from Xavi Hernandez. The goalkeeper has previous experience of working with the German tactician with the national team.
Discussing the changes that are being brought about under the new staff, Ter Stegen said: “I’m seeing how they work and I like it. There’s a lot of intensity; the physical part is very important and we’re working hard to be prepared for the whole season.”
“Hansi has always attached great importance to the physical aspect… Every coach is different and has his own philosophy. Hansi attaches great importance to this topic. I hope that this will benefit us and give us all the strength to compete at any time of the season.”
There has been talk from some quarters about how Barcelona might lose their identity under Flick. Dispelling those claims, Ter Stegen added:
“Well, Hansi has this. He wants to play very fast going forward, find the place to shoot, look for that speed in the game and work so that we are perfect defensively. What he wants is for us to have very clear ideas about what we need.”
Ter Stegen looking forward to life under Flick. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)“And I am convinced that it will work. But I also don’t think we will lose many things from the past as you say: we want to have possession, dominate the game and from there find the decisive moment to attack.”
On the team and transfers
Ter Stegen was asked about the possibility of reinforcing the squad heading into the new season. The German insisted that new additions would be welcome but the squad already has enough quality to win titles, saying:
“That’s for the club to decide. We have the squad we have and I think it’s very good. There’s a lot of talk about other players, but for now, what I’ve seen is young players who are eager to make a place for themselves in the team.
“If there are reinforcements later, of course, they’ll be welcome, but for now we’ve already shown that we can compete with anyone.”
The captain then insisted that for Barcelona to stand a chance of winning anything, they would need Robert Lewandowski firing on all cylinders.
“We certainly need him, for sure. We need Robert to be in perfect form, at 100% in every game,” he remarked.
“We need him to be well and comfortable so that he can get the chances he needs, which I hope will be few, so that he can score lots of goals because that will benefit the team.”
On the impact that youngsters are making at the club, the German international said: “Well, what I see is that the youngsters are working very well. You can see that they want to make a place for themselves in the team and they are very excited.
“They are learning, adapting to what the coach wants and I see that they are very eager. And that enthusiasm benefits us all.”
On Lamine Yamal and Messi
Lamine Yamal has been the biggest name to break through at Barcelona over the past year and Ter Stegen has nothing but praise for the 17-year-old, as he said:
“It is true that Lamine has something special. We have seen it in the team and we have also seen it in the Euro Cup. He is a different player and he still has room to continue improving because he is a footballer who makes a difference.”
Ter Stegen admits Yamal is a special talent. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)But the veteran insisted that the youngster must keep his feet grounded and that there’s a still long way for him to go, adding:
“I hope he keeps his feet on the ground, because I’ve heard that he has a great future and more things… For him, it has to be important to concentrate on the moment and enjoy it, but continue working for the team as he has done until now.
“In the end, what matters is the mentality; being prepared in every game, giving 100%. That’s what he has to do. Concentrate on himself, work for the team and improve in all aspects because he is still very, very young and this is just beginning for him.”
Ter Stegen also discussed the image of Lionel Messi with an infant Lamine Yamal that went viral recently, saying:
“Well… It was a great coincidence. Now we’ll see how everything develops, but you can’t compare one with the other. And let’s hope that Lamine can achieve what Leo has achieved, which is almost impossible.”
On whether he and Barcelona still miss Messi, three years post his departure, he added: “Of course, of course. As a footballer he is unique, you can see it in every game, always maintaining his top level. He is the best of all time.”
Ter Stegen also touched upon the upcoming pre-season friendly against Real Madrid in the USA, insisting that a Clasico is always important even if it is only a friendly.
“Well, a match against Real Madrid is always important and special, because even though we are in pre-season you always want to compete,” he said.
“We already did it against City and we want to continue in this way. We already saw part of their match against Milan and what we want is to beat them.”
