Ter Stegen: 'We are here to show that we're one of the best teams in the world'
Marc-André ter Stegen is about to play his tenth season for FC Barcelona. A Culer since 2014, when he signed from Borussia Mönchengladbach, the goalkeeper has spoken about his first decade in blaugrana, and the personal and team challenges for the new season that begins on Sunday against Getafe.
Your tenth year in Barcelona is upon us. What do you make of the experience so far?
"Good. There have been ups and downs. That’s normal in a footballer’s career. Especially at first. It was something new that I’d never experienced before. I left the team where it had all started for me to go somewhere else. It was obviously very hard at first. Especially because of the language, not so much the football side. In football, there are always ups and downs. But it was good to be taken out of my comfort zone and it developed me as a person and as a footballer. But now I’ve been here a long time and know the club very well. I know what’s happening both inside and outside of the team. And I’m very happy to be here and be part of this journey and to enjoy every moment on the field."
What about your new role as second captain?
"I am so proud to be one of the four captains. It’s an honour to wear that armband. I’ve already got to wear it a few times in the preseason and I am very happy. Obviously part of my job is to help the younger players and the team with anything I can, and also to set an example for everyone at Barça. But ultimately I am very happy to do that."
Last year you kept 26 clean sheets. Will it be hard to repeat that?
"We had never even come close to such a thing before, but obviously in every game your target is to keep a clean sheet. Personally, I want to be at 100%. I hope we can do something similar in the coming years. But the goal is always the same, to not let in goals and to win the game. I would always rather win 1-0 than 5-4".
As for this season, what’s the priority, La Liga or the Champions League?
"The best thing is to win every title. The fans were obviously delighted to win two cups last year, but we are all here to show that we are the best in the world. I don’t think we were up to winning the Champions League in the last two seasons, but now it is a real target. Most of all, we have to show that we are able to compete for it. I don’t think we should be talking about targetting certain rounds. We should be in it to win it. And we’ll be working towards that step by step."
Gündoğan is one of the new faces at Barça. How are you helping him and what can he do for the team?
"He seems a really down to earth guy. And he just won the Champions League, I have no idea how many trophies he won there! He has a lot of experience to offer and my job is to help him to settle in as easily as possible. We are always talking both on and off the pitch so that he feels at home both at the club and in the city."
Apart from yourself, who would you say are the best goalkeepers in the world right now?
"I wouldn’t include myself! Well, there’s Courtois, who I think is doing a fantastic job. Last season and before, Ederson was doing a great job too. I could name many more but I will limit myself to three. I have a lot of time for Remiro, I think he’s been doing a great job in recent years and I really like him as a person too."
So, this season you’ll be playing at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. What’s your message for the fans?
"We need the fans’ support. And not just when you are out there playing. I am sure we have players who stand out. But at the end of the day, when you are playing at home and the crowd is behind you, they push you on, and it will be so important to play in front of a full house at Montjuïc as we work towards all our challenges. I am sure that we’ll enjoying playing there and so will the fans coming to see us. I think it will all be worth it in the end."