Ter Stegen collapses

Ter Stegen faces the risk of being kicked out of Barcelona.

There was a time when people immediately thought of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, the cool, steady goalkeeper who symbolized the post-Victor Valdes generation, when he arrived at Camp Nou at a very young age. He contributed greatly to the 2014/15 Champions League campaign and gradually became the silent leader of the defense.

From halo to inviolable privilege

But after nearly a decade, that position is now in serious jeopardy. Not because of a single mistake, but because of a long series of decline, conservatism, and finally the "turning of the back" of the very club that once put all its faith in him.

Joan Garcia - a €26.3 million signing - is more than just a depth addition. It is the clearest sign yet that Ter Stegen's reign in Barca's goal is reaching its limits. And that slide has, in fact, been brewing for a long time.

After winning the 2015 Champions League, Ter Stegen became the club’s number one goalkeeper. Competitors such as Bravo, Cillessen, Neto and then Iñaki Peña were gradually pushed aside. He was the “chosen one”, placed in an untouchable position for many years - although his performance did not always justify that trust.

The humiliating defeats in the Champions League - from Roma 2018, Anfield 2019, to the culmination of the 2-8 defeat to Bayern - all had Ter Stegen in goal. But strangely, there has never been a serious internal debate about his role.

Even after two knee surgeries and a clear decline in form, Ter Stegen still started. He was once praised as one of the five best goalkeepers in the world - although he could not compete for a starting spot in the German national team, even when Neuer was out with a long-term injury.

Ter Stegen is no longer the number one goalkeeper at Barca.

That protection began to crack when Hansi Flick and Deco arrived at Camp Nou. After a third back surgery in his career, Ter Stegen returned at the end of the 2024/25 season and… quickly disappointed.

From the clumsy handling that led to the goal against Valencia, to the direct mistake that caused Eric Garcia to be sent off in Monaco - Ter Stegen has not only declined professionally, but also failed to show a sense of responsibility commensurate with the captain's armband.

“We don't understand each other. I feel sorry for Eric,” he said—a surprisingly cold reply.

Then there was the story of Ter Stegen refusing to fly with the team to Milan for the Champions League semi-finals when he learned he was not registered to play, even though other injured players were still accompanying him. Or the story of putting hidden pressure on coach Flick, demanding to start in important matches. Those are small details, but when they were "leaked" out - especially in the context of the club no longer trying to protect him - Ter Stegen's image was immediately distorted in the public eye.

Quiet in the locker room

Ter Stegen’s tough attitude is not new. In 2016, he threatened to leave if the club did not sell Bravo. “I want to be the absolute number one,” the German goalkeeper frankly admitted in a podcast. That determination has helped him win his place, but also made the relationship between him and the group of veterans such as Messi, Pique, Busquets and Neymar never really close.

Ter Stegen may have to leave Barca.

Even the current captaincy does not come from collective trust, but simply because... he is the most senior person in the team. It is not difficult to understand why, during stormy times, Ter Stegen seems to be unable to become a spiritual support or representative voice for the whole team.

Perhaps the most bitter thing is that Ter Stegen himself is beginning to realize that, after nearly 10 years at Barca, he has no “legendary night” to remember. Unlike Zubizarreta in Turin, Valdes in Saint-Denis, or Stekelenburg of Ajax. What he has are wins in La Liga, the Zamora trophy in the 2022/23 season - but completely lacking the mark of the Champions League, where great goalkeepers are named.

Barca have changed. They no longer avoid the truth. From absolute protection, the club now leaves him to face public criticism, releasing behind-the-scenes details that were once kept secret. Ter Stegen himself has two options: leave to find a starting position at the 2026 World Cup in North America, or stay to compete with Joan Garcia. But looking at the way both internal and fan bases are turning their backs, perhaps the first option is closer.

From “steel shield” to “exposed symbol”, Ter Stegen's downfall did not come as a surprise - it was simply the consequence of a silence that lasted too long.

Source: https://znews.vn/ter-stegen-sup-do-post1562572.html