“I had to curse without anyone hearing me”

Marc-André Ter Stegen He remembered how bad it was at the 2018 World Cup when he had to be in the shadow of Manuel Neuer in the German team even after the Bayern goalkeeper returned from a serious injury that kept him in dry dock for many months. The Blaugrana, on loan to Ajax, however, praises the Bayern goalkeeper.

“That was the most bitter moment, but I don’t want to talk about it again,” the 34-year-old told ‘Sport Bild’. “The coach decides. You can get very angry about it and not change anything. If I sometimes had to clench my fist in my pocket? If I had to curse without anyone hearing me? Of course!” he says. “There were times when I thought I deserved that opportunity, but the national team coaches chose Manu. You have to respect it, I have to accept it. That’s sport.”

But he added: “Neuer is not just a great goalkeeper: he is probably one of the best goalkeepers of all time.”