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Marc-André ter Stegen faced consequences for a major blunder during FC Barcelona's match against AS Monaco, leading to their first loss under coach Hansi Flick. Spanish media are discussing his future as Barcelona's goalkeeper due to this mistake. This controversy is particularly problematic for the German national team's star.
After attempting to rectify the situation, ter Stegen argued with referee Allard Lindhout, but the red card for Barcelona defender Eric Garcia was unavoidable. The team's Champions League opener and loss marked the beginning of harsh criticism for the goalkeeper.
Newspaper "AS" labeled the incident as "Ter Stegen's shipwreck" and "a game to forget." The paper saw the 1-2 loss as the starting point for potential goalkeeper debates: "His mistakes in Monaco have revived a debate that's been dormant in Barcelona for years, despite his performance inconsistencies (...)."
Ter Stegen under scrutiny post-Neuer's retirement
Mundo Deportivo and Marca also criticized ter Stegen for the fatal pass that resulted in a red card in the 10th minute. Coach Flick, who suffered his first defeat after five league victories, stated: "The red card significantly changed the game." The coach acknowledged the setback and moved forward: "We have to accept it - it happens." With a positive attitude, Flick believed the team was capable of performing well in the Champions League.
Ter Stegen, Manuel Neuer's successor in the German national team and a Barcelona stalwart for nine years, aims to recover from this misstep while looking towards the 2026 World Cup.
After the game, ter Stegen expressed regret over the situation, particularly for Eric Garcia, who had to face the consequences of the mistake. The team played with one player less for almost 80 minutes. The new Champions League format offers potential for redemption: "It's unfortunate what happened, especially for Eric, who had to pay the price," said ter Stegen. "Sunday's game against FC Villarreal in La Liga is a chance to make amends for Barcelona."
Despite Ter Stegen's apologies, AS Monaco capitalized on the opportunity and continued their offensive push, potentially exploiting any lingering confidence issues within Barcelona's defense.
As a result of Ter Stegen's mistake, AS Monaco managed to secure a crucial advantage, further escalating the debate about Barcelona's goalkeeping situation.
