Ter Stegen: Being Neuer’s Backup for a Decade Was Frustrating, But Never Giving Up Was Worth It

At the pre-match press conference for the German national team, Ter Stegen candidly admitted that serving as Neuer’s backup in the national team for many years was once very frustrating for him, but he persevered, and ultimately it was worth it.

Ter Stegen stated: “My goal has always been to become the number one goalkeeper for the German national team. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to achieve this goal over the past decade. The goalkeeper in front of me is Neuer, whose career has been incredible, and he always manages to withstand pressure. Congratulations to him on his career once again.”

Ter Stegen said, “There were times when you think ‘Oh, another setback.’ Ultimately, the decision always favored Neuer, but I dealt with it in a very professional manner. Of course, it was frustrating, but you have to accept reality. Having such an experience and accepting it is appropriate. In the end, it was all worth it. My teammates noticed that I never let this make me give up.”

Now, with Neuer’s retirement from the German national team, Ter Stegen will finally become the number one goalkeeper for Germany. A journalist asked Ter Stegen, “Your contract with Barcelona runs until 2028, do you see your future there? Or are you considering returning to the Bundesliga, or even moving to Bayern Munich to replace Neuer?” Ter Stegen smiled and replied, “I have a relatively long-term contract with my club, and I am very happy about it. My family is very happy in Catalonia, and I am looking forward to this season. This is my focus, and I believe focusing on the present and the near future benefits me. No one can predict what the future holds, and I don’t know if the Bundesliga will become my football target again. We’ll see. Generally speaking, I am very satisfied with my current situation, the team I am currently playing for, and the club where I have spent many years.”