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The German goalkeeper - who has been a mainstay for many years - was stripped of the captaincy after a series of conflicts related to attitude and personal decisions. |
Barcelona are going through a turbulent period as the relationship between Ter Stegen and the board of directors has hit rock bottom. The German goalkeeper - a mainstay for many years - was stripped of the captaincy after a series of conflicts related to attitude and personal decisions.
Things exploded when Ter Stegen announced that he had undergone back surgery and that he would be back in three months. According to experts, the actual recovery time would be four months or more. This “deliberately understated” move put the club in a difficult position: Barcelona could not ask LaLiga for permission to use 80% of his salary to sign a replacement, and at the same time, it ruined the plan to register Joan Garcia - the goalkeeper that coach Hansi Flick considered the number one option.
This is considered the “last straw” for the board of directors. From President Joan Laporta, Sports Director Deco to Coach Flick, everyone believes that Ter Stegen can no longer maintain his leadership role in the dressing room. When the captain is no longer a reliable bridge between the team and the leadership, stripping the armband is an inevitable consequence.
The problem is not just the surgery. Last season, while still recovering, Ter Stegen repeatedly spoke to the press in Germany, expressing his desire to return to goal in time for the Nations League. This action was seen internally by Barca as putting unnecessary pressure on Wojciech Szczesny - the replacement goalkeeper at the time.
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Ter Stegen was once a solid symbol in Barca's defense, contributing greatly to many La Liga and Copa del Rey titles. |
In addition, the incident on the day Barca celebrated the La Liga championship at home disappointed many teammates. Out of anger at not being the starting goalkeeper, Ter Stegen refused to speak in front of the audience as captain - an action that was considered irresponsible and damaged the club's image.
Ter Stegen was once a solid figure in the Barca defence, playing a major role in many La Liga and Copa del Rey titles. However, the cracks in his relationship with the club are now becoming difficult to mend. His current contract will keep him at Camp Nou until at least January next year, but the patience of the board is running out.
The decision to strip Ter Stegen of the captaincy is not only a matter of personal discipline but also a message from Hansi Flick about establishing discipline in the dressing room. Barcelona are entering a period of strong rebuilding, and a captain who lacks cohesion will no longer have a place.
Can Ter Stegen reinvent himself to save his position, or will this be the beginning of a noisy farewell in the winter transfer window? Barcelona certainly do not want to prolong the "underground war" with Germany's number one goalkeeper, but what is happening shows one thing: Ter Stegen's time as the leader of the Camp Nou stadium is over.
Source: https://znews.vn/ter-stegen-mat-quyen-luc-post1571932.html
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