Ter Stegen on his rivalry with Neuer: this is the most bitter moment of my career

Marc-André ter Stegen, the Barcelona goalkeeper on loan at Ajax Amsterdam, spoke candidly about his years of rivalry with Manuel Neuer for the goalkeeping spot in the Germany national team, admitting that he felt frustrated at certain periods.

Ter Stegen sometimes believed he deserved greater opportunities to play. Yet he stressed his respect for the coaches' decisions and his deep appreciation for the Bayern Munich goalkeeper.

In an interview with the German newspaper "Sport Bild", Ter Stegen was asked about the challenge of playing in the same era as Neuer, with two world-class goalkeepers chasing a single spot.

"The truth is that Manuel Neuer is not just a great goalkeeper," the German said. "Let's not fool ourselves, he is probably one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. He also enjoyed great respect within the national team, and he deserved it."

"But injuries also held him back, and who knows better than I do, unfortunately, what that means?" he added. "Nevertheless, I believe that having a certain amount of competition pushes the goalkeeper who gets the chance to play to develop. That is how it was between us."

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"Of course, the question remains: would I have preferred to be the goalkeeper who plays?" he continued. "Certainly! But the coaches who worked with us in the national team chose Manuel. You have to respect that, and I have to accept it, that is simply part of football."

He admitted he did not always hide his frustration. "Were there times when I had to suppress my anger and keep my frustration to myself? And did I sometimes curse under my breath when no one was listening to me? Certainly!"

"There were also moments when I felt that I perhaps deserved a greater chance," he went on.

"The most bitter"

Then came the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Neuer returned to the national team after roughly eight months out through injury and was handed the first-choice spot despite barely playing an official match beforehand. Ter Stegen called that episode the most painful of all.

"That was the most bitter moment for me, but I do not want to go back to talking about it," he said. "In the end, the coach is the one who makes the decision. You can feel as angry as you like, but that will not change anything."

The rivalry between the two goalkeepers runs back years. Neuer stayed Germany's number one even after a serious injury in September 2017 kept him off the pitch for nearly eight months, a broken metatarsal that required surgery.

Ter Stegen stepped into the national team's goal during that absence and impressed, convincing himself his chance of starting at the 2018 World Cup had come within reach.

Joachim Löw, Germany's manager at the time, had other ideas. He restored Neuer to the starting line-up before the World Cup, handing him a friendly against Austria in June 2018 despite his long spell away.

Neuer started all three group-stage matches. Ter Stegen sat on the bench as Germany crashed out in the first round for the first time since 1938.

Professional Summary

A multi-disciplinary Egyptian journalist dedicated to providing readers with comprehensive and accurate insights. I possess over 13 years of experience in print and broadcast media, having contributed to some of the largest newspapers, digital platforms, and TV channels in Egypt and the Arab world. Notably, since April 2017, I have served as a Shift Manager and Desk Editor at Kooora, the leading Arabic sports website, collaborating with a premier team of highly professional journalists.

I am passionate about crafting logical and accessible sports articles and analyses—avoiding unnecessary complexity—while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and objectivity. I firmly believe that personal bias has no place in journalism; information is a trust, and integrity is the supreme ethic of the media profession.

Personal Background & Football Philosophy

My journey with football began at the age of five, inspired by my family's passion during the 1994 World Cup. Since then, the sport has become an integral part of my life, both as a player and a spectator.

One of my most formative footballing memories is the historic 1999 UEFA Champions League final at Camp Nou. That night, Manchester United’s dramatic late comeback against Bayern Munich marked the beginning of my lifelong allegiance to the German giants, who still hold a prominent place in my heart.

Areas of Expertise

Leveraging extensive experience across various media sectors, I specialize in:

Football History: Extensive knowledge of European and German football history.

Tactical Analysis: Predicting match scenarios and tactical breakdowns.

Scouting: Identifying young talents and analyzing their technical potential.

Career Milestones & Highlights

Among many memorable sporting moments, the most significant remains Bayern Munich’s 2001 UEFA Champions League victory over Valencia—my first continental celebration with the club.

All-Time Favorite XI:

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer.

Defense: Alessandro Nesta, Sergio Ramos, Philipp Lahm, Paolo Maldini.

Midfield: Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Zinedine Zidane.

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