Germany manager addresses Ter Stegen’s situation: ‘Chances of him making it to the World Cup are…’ | OneFootball

Things have taken a difficult turn for Marc-Andre ter Stegen this season, with the Barcelona goalkeeper now facing a serious race against time to be fit for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

After a promising start to his loan spell at Girona, where he was beginning to regain rhythm and confidence, the German international suffered a significant injury. 

The setback has put his availability for the World Cup in real doubt at a crucial point in the season.

Nagelsmann keeping doors open

Speaking about the situation, Germany head coach, Julian Nagelsmann, offered an update, making it clear that while the situation is difficult, it is not completely closed.

“He’s no longer 21. He has got a few games under his belt, but we’ll see how he progresses. We’ll be patient until the very end.”

The German manager also highlighted the goalkeeper’s professionalism and attitude during this period, stressing how important he remains within the national team setup despite being sidelined.

After recently speaking with the player, Nagelsmann praised his commitment.

“We spoke the day before yesterday. I really appreciate that he’s always there when we need him, even during his injury; he’s always available. 

Ter Stegen is in the recovery phase. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

“He doesn’t just care about himself, but also about the team,” he added.

Potential return

However, when discussing the timeline of his recovery, the tone became more cautious. 

Nagelsmann pointed out that the goalkeeper has not had consistent playing time recently, which complicates his return to full fitness.

“It’s not as though he played for a year and then got injured; he’s been out for a year and has played very little.”

He then delivered the most concerning part of his update, addressing the chances of Ter Stegen making the tournament:

“We have to keep an eye on the situation as a whole. He’s no longer in pain in that area, but the chances of him making it to the World Cup are very, very slim,” he concluded.

For now, Ter Stegen continues his recovery at Barcelona’s training facilities while staying close to the squad environment by travelling to Girona during matches. 

If he manages to return and play a few matches, there is still a small window of hope for him to represent his country at the World Cup.

Source: SPORT