Barcelona captain’s return key to team’s reversal of fortunes in defence | OneFootball

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Injuries have taken a huge toll on FC Barcelona this season. The Catalans are currently missing important players like Gavi, Pedri, Balde, and Frenkie de Jong, and also had to go through a lengthy part of the season without their starting goalkeeper, Marc Andre Ter Stegen.

A back issue caused the German to go through surgery, and miss 17 games during the 85 days of recovery that he had to spend on the sidelines. He returned to the team in February, and, as SPORT has noted, the team’s improvement in its defense has been notable since his return.

FC Barcelona have not lost any of their eight games since Ter Stegen’s return, and there has also been a significant decrease in the number of goals the team has conceded.

The German conceded three goals in the game against Granada, which was the first one after he returned from his injury. However, after that game, the goalkeeper has only conceded three more goals, and he has been key for the improvement in his team’s fortunes.

Overall, Ter Stegen did not have a lot to do in the last match against Atletico Madrid. But he was still key for the Catalans as he made a double save when the score was only 1-0 in Barcelona’s favor, and his saves kept Atletico Madrid from taking advantage of their momentum.

His return from injury was also highly important for the dressing room as he captains the team whenever Sergi Roberto is not on the pitch.

He is one of the most senior players in the squad, currently spending his ninth season at the club, but there has been no decline in the level of performances he has offered over the years, even though he has had to go through some difficult moments during this time.