The German national team will play their first Nations League group stage match, traveling to the Netherlands at 02:45 CEST on September 25. Ahead of the match, M. ter Stegen, Germany's goalkeeper, attended a press conference. The following is an excerpt from his remarks.

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Good evening, Marc-André. M. ter Stegen, welcome back to the national team. You're finally back from injury after a difficult period. Tomorrow you'll play as the number one goalkeeper in your new home. How do you feel about the match tomorrow night?

Yes, I'm very excited about tomorrow's match. For me, this is a very special experience. It's my new home here at Johan Cruyff Arena, Ajax's stadium, and the pitch has been specially prepared for this competition. Based on my experience, I know this is always an exceptional tournament, and tomorrow should be another great match.

What are your expectations for yourself and your fitness over the next two to four years? I assume you're thinking not just about the European Championship, but also the World Cup?

That's an interesting question. I have to say that the most important thing for me right now is maintaining my fitness. I think that's the key—getting back to my rhythm, as I've been doing over the past few weeks. Especially after a serious injury, I'm taking the current situation more carefully. My goal right now is to perform at my best over the coming weeks and months, and to return to top form. The first few weeks in Amsterdam are very important to me. Feeling that my body is strong again—that's wonderful.

You received a call from Jürgen Klopp back then. You didn't reveal many details at the time, but now everyone knows you'll be the number one goalkeeper. Can you tell us what the situation was like? Did he make it clear from the start that he had faith in you? Also, you just heard Jürgen Klopp's press conference. You've worked with many coaches, and you walked out with a big smile just now. Have you experienced press conferences like that before? How interesting is it to work with him?

Yes, I think our first conversation went very smoothly. We discussed the team's overall situation, and of course he wants to build the team around key players. He told me from the beginning and explained his philosophy. But ultimately, as he emphasized in his earlier press conference, performance always comes first. That's the foundation of everything, along with good physical condition. I heard him say it himself, so for me, I'm very much looking forward to the current situation. A great start tomorrow against a strong opponent, and I hope it will be a very successful period under his management. I want to express these wishes for him, for us, and for German football.

Yes, I may have only heard his press conference for three minutes, but I believe you already know him better than I do. He's like a "powerhouse." His words are carefully chosen and well-crafted, and he often makes everyone laugh. I think that's a wonderful combination, and yes, I'm confident you'll be very happy working with him.

Good evening, Marc. I'd like to ask you once more about the overall situation of Germany's goalkeepers. Experts often express concern that after you and M. Neuer, the younger generation doesn't have sufficient quality. How do you view the young goalkeepers around you? And how do you assess Germany's backup goalkeepers 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 good goalkeepers. Yes, I think we're all at a high level, and of course everyone is in a different situation right now. We all want to make the coach's decision as difficult as possible in the future. Everyone has ambitions and their own goals. And of course there will be many excellent young goalkeepers coming in the future. Jonas—how old is he? 23 or 24?

I think he's 22 (actually 23)?

You know him better than I do. He's also a very good goalkeeper. Although he hasn't yet had the chance to establish himself at FC Bayern Munich, since M. Neuer has been the number one there, I think now they have good interaction and cooperation. He can learn a lot from M. Neuer, which I think is very important for him. Learning from M. Neuer is the best thing for him. He's in an excellent position, not under the greatest pressure, but he can develop very well. So I think our backup goalkeeper situation is very strong for the next few years.

Marc, two years ago, after the European Championship, you started as Germany's number one goalkeeper here in the Nations League against the Netherlands, which came after a major tournament that wasn't particularly successful. Now you're back with the team again after the World Cup. How would you compare the atmosphere within the team now to two years ago? And how do you feel about the new coach coming in?

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. This doesn't mean it was better or worse before; it's simply a time when the new team needs to come together and find its identity.

As the coach mentioned, now is the time for him to get a complete overview and observe all the players closely. I think bringing in several new players is a very interesting way to assess the situation, so he can develop a sense of understanding each player and get to know them beyond just the football pitch. This will give him clarity on what he wants to do over the coming weeks, months, and even years ahead.

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