When FC Barcelona face third-division side Guadalajara in the cup on Tuesday, regular goalkeeper Joan Garcia will not be between the posts. However, coach Hansi Flick has left open whether Marc-André ter Stegen will replace him.
It has been almost seven months since Marc-André ter Stegen last played, when he appeared for the German national team in the Nations League third-place play-off against France. Two weeks earlier, FC Barcelona fans had last seen him in goal for the Catalans on the penultimate matchday against Villarreal CF.
Now coach Flick could give him a chance to return in Barcelona’s opening game in the Copa del Rey – but will he? The only thing that is clear so far is that Joan Garcia will be given a break by the defending champions. “Joan will be rested. But I haven’t made a decision about the starting lineup yet – not even about the goalkeeper,” the Barcelona coach said on Monday.
In addition to ter Stegen, Wojciech Szczesny also has a chance of playing. The Pole already replaced Garcia this season during a several-week injury break before the number one returned in mid-November and regained full confidence. “Marc is a fantastic goalkeeper. We have three fantastic goalkeepers,“ said Flick. But Szczesny also ”performed fantastically last season and gave us stability this season when Joan was injured. He’s also important in the dressing room.”
Flick announced that he would be talking to both keepers tomorrow, Tuesday. “Today is not a day for decisions. Today is a day of rest,” said the 60-year-old, who may also have to do without the injured Robert Lewandowski.
Flick gives ter Stegen no hints about his future
Even if ter Stegen is allowed to play for the third-division club, it doesn’t change his fundamental problem. Garcia is – according to Flick – the clear number one, which means the German keeper is likely to be benched in the second half of the season. It’s not realistic to expect the 33-year-old to play in goal for Germany at the World Cup without any playing practice, as national coach Julian Nagelsmann has already hinted.
“We’ve talked about his situation, and he’s a fantastic goalkeeper,” said Flick. “I respect him, he’s a very good player and also a good person. But whether he stays is his decision.”
