FAST DOWNLOAD
- Ter Stegen suffers ruptured patella
- Will undergo surgery on Monday
- Set to be out for rest of the season
-
ImagoWHAT HAPPENED?
Barcelona captain Ter Stegen has not been in the best form over the last year and a half but remained a major part of the leadership team under Hansi Flick. After a poor performance in midweek against Monaco, the German started well against Villarreal as he made a couple of crucial saves. But due to an untimely injury, the 32-year-old was forced to depart the game before halftime at Estadio de la Ceramica as he was being stretchered off the pitch.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The early indications were not positive and after carrying out tests today, Barcelona have announced that Ter Stegen has a complete rupture in the patella in his right knee and is set to undergo surgery on Monday, September 23. He is now expected to miss the rest of the season as the Catalan club will now have to rely on Inaki Pena and Ander Astralaga to fill the void.
-
Getty Images SportWHAT FLICK SAID
With both Pena and Astralaga not having had a lot of senior-level action in their careers, it has been debated whether Barcelona may sign a new keeper as a replacement for Ter Stegen. When asked about the same, Flick said to the media: “Signing a replacement for Ter Stegen? I don’t like this question. Please understand that I am very sad right now and I don’t want to talk about this topic right now.”
-
