Marc-Andre Ter Stegen’s horrific injury at Estadi de La Ceramica against Villarreal had the players screaming for the medical staff to rush to the scene. It was clear from the get-go that the player had suffered a very serious setback.
The club soon confirmed a complete rupture in his patellar tendon and he immediately underwent surgery to facilitate a complete recovery,
As it stands, Barcelona have not officially confirmed the duration of the player’s time out but word has it that it is Ter Stegen who has asked for it not to be revealed.
The unofficial time known stands at 8-9 months but he is hopeful of returning at the tail end of the season.
Matthaus’ advice to Ter Stegen
Penning his thoughts in a recent column on Sky Sports (via SPORT), Germany legend Lothar Matthaus spoke on Ter Stegen’s setback and his thoughts on the same.
“I almost burst into tears when I saw the images of Marc-Andre ter Stegen last night,” he began, extending support to the Barcelona star.
He then spoke on how it was a crushing blow for the goalkeeper who only recently took over as the first choice for the national team.
“He had to be behind Manuel Neuer in Germany’s goal for many years. When the door of the World Cup is open and he is the number one of the national team [he faces this setback]. It’s brutal.”
Accept the inevitable
Interestingly, the legend then advised the Barcelona player to not downplay the extent of his injury and professionally accept that his season is over to not build wrong expectations and ease the pressure off himself.
“However, I am convinced that, driven by his sporting ambition, he will find the way to recover his old form.”
“But he should quickly say and accept that the season is over for him and that he will return until next year and, for the rest, say as little as possible about it,” he added.
He then justified his statement by writing on how pity had no place in sports where injuries are a part and parcel of the game.
“It hurts and makes me bitter, but I still don’t know if pity is appropriate and feeding it doesn’t make sense. A professional soccer player has to deal with these things and injuries are part of it,” he concluded.
