Ter Stegen: Urbig can develop well, we have plenty of goalkeeper reserves

Germany will face the Netherlands away in its first UEFA Nations League group stage match on September 25 at 20:45 CET. Ahead of the match, German goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegen attended a press conference. Here is the first part of the press conference.

Good evening and welcome back to the national team. Marc-André Ter Stegen, you're finally back after a really difficult injury period. Tomorrow, you'll play as number one goalkeeper in your new home. What are your impressions about tomorrow's match?

Yes, I'm incredibly excited about tomorrow's match. For me, it's also a very special, extremely special experience, because... yes, it's my new home (the Johan Cruyff Arena, Ajax's stadium, where Ter Stegen currently plays), and the stadium has been decorated and set up for this match. Yes, so from past experiences, I know these are always fantastic confrontations, and tomorrow will probably be another big match.

Mr. Ter Stegen, what are your expectations for yourself and your fitness over the next two to four years? You're probably thinking not only about the Euros but also the World Cup, right?

That's a very interesting question. No, I have to say my current priority is staying healthy. I think that's the most important thing—to regain match rhythm, as I've been doing these past weeks. For me, especially after going through a difficult injury, you pay more attention to how things are progressing. My goal now is to play at the highest level and get back to my best form over the coming weeks and months. These first weeks in Amsterdam have been very important for me in that regard, and feeling physically well is truly wonderful.

You received a call from Jürgen Klopp, and back then you didn't reveal too many details, but now everyone knows you'll be number one. Can you tell us a bit more about that situation? Did he clearly express his confidence from the start? Also, you just heard part of Klopp's press conference; you've worked with many coaches before, and you were smiling very broadly just now. Have you ever experienced a press conference like that? How interesting is it to work with him?

Yes, I think our first conversation was very harmonious, absolutely. We discussed the overall situation with the team, and of course, he needs a strong central axis, and he told me that right from the start by explaining his ideas. But ultimately, as he emphasized at the previous press conference, performance and form are always the priority. That's the prerequisite for everything, just like physical health, and I heard him say that firsthand. So for me, I'm looking forward to the current situation—an excellent start against a tough opponent tomorrow—and I hope for a very successful period under his leadership. I wish that for him, for us, and for German football.

Yes, I probably only listened to three minutes of the press conference, but I think you probably know him better than me by now. He's like a "powerhouse"—his words are very carefully chosen and intelligent, and he always makes people laugh. I think that's an excellent combination, yes, and I believe you'll enjoy working with him.

Good evening Marc, I'd like to ask you again about the overall situation of German goalkeepers. Experts have often expressed concerns that after this era, there won't be sufficient quality in the younger generation behind you and Manuel Neuer. How do you perceive your young colleagues around you? And how do you assess Germany's overall goalkeeper reserves?

I have to say the goalkeepers I see training now, and the goalkeepers who will be with the team next week, are all very, very good goalkeepers. Yes, I think we're all at a very high level, and of course, each one is currently in different circumstances, and we all hope to make the coach's choice as difficult as possible going forward. Everyone has his ambitions and objectives, and many excellent young goalkeepers will certainly emerge later. Jonas Urbig—I think... how old is he? 23 or 24years old?

I think he's 22 (actually 23)?

You know better than I do. He's also a very good goalkeeper. Even at Bayern, he hasn't yet fully... well, "made a name for himself" might not be quite right, since Neuer has always been number one there. But I think they have good dynamics now, and he can learn from Neuer, which I think is very, very important for him. It's probably hard to learn more than what you can learn alongside Neuer. So he's in an excellent situation, not yet under the greatest pressure, but he can develop well. Therefore, I think our reserves at this position for the coming years are very, very solid.

Marc, two years ago, after the Euros, you also started as number one goalkeeper here in the Nations League against the Netherlands, which followed a major tournament that wasn't very successful. Now, after the World Cup, you're back with the team. How is the atmosphere in the team compared to two years ago? And with the arrival of the new coach, what are your personal feelings?

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

As the coach said, now is the moment for him to get a complete overview and observe each player closely. I think calling up many players is a very interesting way to evaluate them, so he can develop an intuitive understanding of each one and get to know each person beyond the football pitch. That will give him a clear idea of what he wants to do in the coming weeks, months, and even years.

Traduit par IA.

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