Marc-André ter Stegen had just been promoted to number one in the German national football team after years of waiting, when the DFB team around Julian Nagelsmann and Rudi Völler received the news that the goalkeeper had seriously injured his knee and would be out for at least six months. This is how the national coach, sports director and co. reacted to the bitter diagnosis.
It was already clear on Sunday evening that it was serious, when Marc-André ter Stegen sank to the ground after an aerial challenge in the league match against FC Villarreal (final score 5:1), was then put on a stretcher and carried out of the stadium while screaming in pain. Suspected: serious knee injury. On Monday, the worst suspicions were confirmed.
FC Barcelona put a red exclamation mark on the diagnosis: complete tear of the patellar tendon in the right knee. Surgery this afternoon. New information will be available after that.
The 32-year-old Barca goalkeeper’s bad luck naturally stirred sympathy everywhere. “Get well soon,” wrote former DFB colleague and Real rival Toni Kroos on X (formerly Twitter). The DFB captioned Barca’s post with three broken hearts.
“The news of Marc’s injury was a big shock for us,” said national coach Julian Nagelsmann on Monday afternoon.
Ter Stegen injury: Flick is “sad”
“We will miss him a lot in the national team on and off the pitch. We wish Marc all the best for the operation and a good and speedy recovery. We will always be there for him on his way back,” Nagelsmann continued.
DFB sports director Rudi Völler also joined in the get-well wishes. “I’m very sorry for Marc,” he said.
“All of us in the national team are standing firmly by his side on the road to his comeback. Marc has had to deal with a number of setbacks in the course of his career. I am convinced that he will come back stronger this time too,” said the DFB official, alluding to the fact that ter Stegen had previously been sidelined for a long time due to knee injuries and most recently due to back problems.
No wonder that Barca coach Hansi Flick stressed how “sad” he was because ter Stegen, who has recently become captain of the Catalans, “is very important to us”.
DFB goalkeeper coach Andreas Kronenberg echoed these words. “This is very bitter news. Marc is an important pillar of support for both FC Barcelona and the national team,” he said.
Source: www.sport.de
