Ter Stegen: 'This is a great moment for me'

LOS ANGELES — One of the most respected voices in the FC Barcelona dressing room is that of Marc ter Stegen. One of the team's leaders both on and off the field, and now the team's second captain, the German goalkeeper, who is coming off arguably the best season of his career, is highly optimistic about the coming campaign.

"I'm in a very good moment," he said. "There is balance with football and my personal life. I'm enjoying every single moment on the field."

The 31-year-old keeper said he was proud of his eye-popping numbers last season — several of which broke long-standing records — but made it clear that individual accolades are never an objective at the outset of the season. 

"I think that the four captains will do a great job," ter Stegen said. "We will try to make everything flow. It's a new situation for everyone and we have to get used to it but I'm happy to form part of it and I think that the ones that were chosen deserved it."

Marc ter Stegen also spoke about German national side teammate Ilkay Gündoğan, whom he will try to "help as much as possible to feel comfortable on the team."

“Gündoğan gives us experience. He's a fantastic footballer and I think it will be easy for him to adapt. I'm extremely happy to have a player like him on our team," ter Stegen said.