Ter Stegen: Urbig Can Develop Rapidly, Our Goalkeeper Depth Is Very Strong

Germany will face the Netherlands at home in the first match of the UEFA Nations League group stage on 25 September at 02:45 CEST (Beijing Time). Ahead of the match, Germany's goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen attended a press conference. Below is an excerpt from that press conference.

Good evening, and welcome back to the national team, Marc-André ter Stegen. You've finally recovered from your injury and returned after a truly difficult period. Tomorrow, you'll play as Germany's number one goalkeeper at your new home. How are you feeling about tomorrow's match?

Yes, I'm very excited about tomorrow's match. It's a very special experience for me, very special, because... well, this is my new home (the match is being played at Johan Cruyff Arena, ter Stegen's current club home at Barcelona), and the stadium has been decorated and prepared for this match. Yes, so based on past experience, I know this is always an incredible atmosphere, and tomorrow will likely be an exciting match as well.

Mr. ter Stegen, what are your expectations for yourself and your physical condition over the next two to four years? You're probably thinking not just about the European Championship but also the World Cup, right?

That's quite an interesting question. No, I have to say that my main focus right now is staying healthy. I think that's what's most important—to regain my rhythm, as I've been doing over the past few weeks. For me, especially after going through a difficult period with injury, you pay more attention to current developments. My goal now is to perform at the highest level and get back to my best form in the coming weeks and months. For this, these early weeks in Amsterdam are very important to me; feeling physically healthy is truly wonderful.

You received a call from Jürgen Klopp. At that time, you didn't reveal much detail, but now everyone knows you'll be Germany's number one goalkeeper. Can you tell us a bit about how that situation went? Did he express his confidence in you clearly from the start? Also, you just heard part of Klopp's press conference; you've had many head coaches. You came away with a big smile just now. Have you experienced a press conference like that before? How interesting is it to work with him?

Yes, I think our first conversation was very pleasant, of course. We discussed the team's general situation, and of course, he needs a central goalkeeper—he told me that from the start and explained his ideas. But ultimately, as he emphasized in the earlier press conference, performance is always what matters most. That's a prerequisite for everything, of course, along with staying healthy. I heard it directly from him. So for me, I'm very much looking forward to this situation, to getting off to a great start tomorrow against a strong opponent, and I hope to have a very successful period under him. I conveyed these hopes for him, for us, and for German football.

Yes, I only listened to about three minutes of his press conference, but I'm sure you probably know him better than I do by now. He's like an "energy hub"—his words are very carefully chosen and sophisticated, and he always makes people laugh. I think that's a great combination, yes, I'm sure you'll enjoy working with him.

Good evening, Marc. I'd like to ask again about the overall situation of Germany's goalkeeper position. Experts often express concern that after this generation, there won't be adequate quality among the younger generation behind you and Manuel Neuer. How do you see your younger teammates around you? And how do you assess Germany's goalkeeper depth overall?

I have to say that the goalkeepers I see in training now, and the ones who will be with the team next week, are all very, very good. Yes, I think we're all at a very high level, and of course, everyone is in a different situation right now. We all want to make it as difficult as possible for the coach to choose in the future. Everyone has their ambitions and goals, and many very talented young goalkeepers will certainly emerge. Jonas Urbig, I think... how old is he? 23 or 24?

I think he's 22 (actually 23)?

You know better than I do. He's also a very good goalkeeper, although he hasn't yet fully... well, "stood out" might not be the right expression at Bayern, because Manuel has always been the number one there. But I think they now have a good interactive partnership; he can learn from Neuer, and I think that's very, very important for him. It would be hard to learn more than what he gains from being around Manuel. So he's in a very good position, not yet under maximum pressure, but he can develop very well. Therefore, I believe our goalkeeper depth for the years to come is very, very strong.

Marc, two years ago, after the European Championship, you also started as Germany's number one goalkeeper in the Nations League against the Netherlands, also after a major tournament that was somewhat unsuccessful. Now, returning to the team after the World Cup, how does the atmosphere compare to two years ago? And with the arrival of the new head coach, how do you personally feel?

Yes, there are many new faces on the team, both for me and for you in the media. It's interesting to observe because there's a different kind of energy on the team now. That doesn't mean it's better or worse than before. Basically, this is a period where the new team needs to come together and find its footing.

As the head coach said, now is the time for him to fully understand the situation and observe each player carefully. I think calling up many players is a very interesting way to get a basic understanding, so he can develop an intuitive feel for everyone and get to know each person away from the football pitch. This will give him a clear picture of what he wants to do in the coming weeks, months, and even years ahead.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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