Barcelona captain ready to impress Flick ahead of imminent return – ‘Feel in my best physical condition’ | OneFootball

There has been a lot of chatter around Marc-Andre ter Stegen lately as the goalkeeper continues his fast recovery from a knee injury.

The German had picked up a knock earlier in the season, and after a long layoff, he is slowly returning to full fitness, with many expecting him to return to action by the end of the month.

Whether or not ter Stegen will directly return to Barcelona’s starting XI upon his return remains to be seen, especially with Wojciech Szczesny performing brilliantly.

It must also be noted that ter Stegen might not be eligible to play in the Champions League as he is not a part of the club’s UCL squad.

Ter Stegen ready to impress Hansi Flick

Nevertheless, in a recent interaction with BILD, ter Stegen talked about his potential return, admitting that he is ready to impress coach Hansi Flick.

“I feel in my best physical condition. I haven’t set a return date, but I’m ready to convince the coach that I’m ready,” he said.

It is clear that ter Stegen is aware of the ongoing dynamic in Barcelona’s goalkeeping department, especially with many backing Szczesny to end the season as the club’s No. 1 shot-stopper.

Ter Stegen will be desperately waiting for his return to the pitch (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Ter Stegen went on to talk about the first sensations he received after picking up a knock.

“The first thing I felt was a tight feeling in my thigh. The pain spread throughout my body. When I looked down, I immediately realized that the problem wasn’t just with my thigh.

“My knee was in a completely different position than it should have been, and it was clear that it couldn’t be “reset” just like that,” he said.

Ter Stegen, though, praised the reception he received after the injury, including support from Villarreal fans as well as his own teammates.

“The applause from the Villarreal fans, my opponents, and my teammates as I was carried off the pitch had a profound impact on me. It showed me how important I am here,” he concluded.

The veteran captain also hailed Barcelona for their ability to nurture young talent while singling out Pedri for praise, saying:

“Barcelona is truly the best talent nursery in the world. These young players are very clear. Pedri, for example, is a phenomenon. If they maintain this focus, the future will be promising.”

Ter Stegen has recently trained with other goalkeepers in Barcelona training. And with each passing day, the German is nearing his return to the pitch.