Hansi Flick offers constructive criticism after Ter Stegen's uninspiring performance
- Marc Andre ter Stegen was under fire for his disappointing showing vs. AS Monaco, calling his form into question.
- Head Coach Hansi Flick backed his keeper during the postgame, instilling confidence in the veteran despite his recent struggles.
By Rohan Borges
Flick offered his full support to Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen after the club's frustrating 3-1 defeat to AS Monaco in their Champions League opener.
Barcelona's first loss of the season was overshadowed by early adversity as defender Eric Garcia was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge, leaving the Catalan side shorthanded for most of the match. While Lamine Yamal produced a moment of individual brilliance to briefly bring Barcelona level, Monaco capitalized on their numerical advantage, sealing the victory with two more goals.
At the center of post-match discussions was the uncharacteristically poor performance of Ter Stegen, as the German international struggled with his decision-making throughout the contest. His casual distribution from the back repeatedly placed Barcelona under unnecessary pressure, with one errant pass directly leading to Monaco's second goal. The mistakes were reminiscent of his underwhelming showing in Barcelona’s 3-0 preseason loss to Monaco in the Joan Gamper Cup, raising justified concerns about his form.
Despite the criticism from fans and pundits alike, Flick was quick to defend Ter Stegen, emphasizing his importance to Barcelona’s style of play.
"I think one of Marc's biggest strengths is when he has the ball, and that's our style of play as well. Maybe he made a mistake in the Monaco game, but everyone makes mistakes, we are human."
- Hansi Flick
There’s no denying what Ter Stegen has meant to Barca during his decade-long tenure at the club. His new role as Germany's starting goalkeeper following Manuel Neuer’s retirement is a testament to his quality. While the goalie must improve his form, his shaky start to the season shouldn't overshadow his immense contributions to the club’s recent successes. Before the Monaco defeat, Ter Stegen had only conceded four goals in Barcelona’s opening five matches, proving his reliability.
While the German remains Barcelona's first-choice keeper, Flick and his staff will closely monitor his form. Should the struggles continue, younger talents like Iñaki Peña or Diego Kochen may be called upon, or the club could consider external options in the January transfer window. For now, however, Ter Stegen’s legacy commands patience, and Barcelona fans must trust that he will rediscover his best form soon.