Former German champion clears Marc-André ter Stegen from the national team
It seems to be a cursed season for Marc-André ter Stegen: after the problems he had in the summer, he lost his place at Barcelona to Joan Garcia and Wojciech Szczęsny and, in order to hope for a call-up to the next World Cup, he decided to move on loan to Girona until the end of the season. In the last game against Real Oviedo, however, he was injured and now risks a very long stop.
The champion suffered an injury to his left hamstring and it is feared there is also a rupture of the tendon: “He was injured in the match against Oviedo and will undergo further medical examinations to establish a prognosis” reads the Girona” statement. Speaking to the microphones of ZDF, René Adler had his say on the possibility of seeing ter Stegen defend Germany’s goal at the upcoming World Cup.
“I am really sorry but I don’t think he will make it. He would have deserved it for everything he has done over the years and for always proving to be an exemplary replacement for Manuel Neuer but you also have to consider the facts, take into account how long he has been out and consider that Oliver Baumann is doing a very good job. I think it would be unfair to Baumann if Julian Nagelsmann changed his mind; he is having a very good season in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim’Hoffenheim. Therefore, we should accept that Oliver Baumann is the number one goalkeeper”.
There are also those who have ventured the possibility of seeing Manuel Neuer again in the German national team: “Manuel Neuer retired of his own free will, this is a discussion that should not even be addressed. Oliver Baumann should receive the respect he deserves for his performance”. Regarding the Neuer issue, Sepp Maier also intervened in an interview with Sport1: “This whole thing is a bit’ annoying. Whenever something happens, everyone immediately calls Manu”.
“Although this shows the importance it has had and still has, it does not help the current team or its development. Has the technical commissioner said anything about it? It doesn’t seem like it. It’s time to stop speculating about his return. We need to look ahead” Maier concluded.
