Flick confirms Ter Stegen's shock Girona switch as Barcelona prepare for Slavia Prague
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has confirmed Marc-Andre ter Stegen will join Girona, as the German coach focuses on Champions League ambitions against Slavia Prague.
Barcelona prepare for their crucial Champions League clash against Slavia Prague with the bombshell news that Marc-Andre ter Stegen is Girona-bound, confirmed by manager Hansi Flick himself.
Ter Stegen bombshell
In a proper bolt from the blue, Flick casually revealed that Barcelona’s number one goalkeeper is set to join Catalan neighbors Girona. When asked about the situation during his pre-match press conference at Eden Arena, Flick was remarkably straightforward:
“This morning Marc said he was going to Girona,” Flick confirmed. “He’s a good goalkeeper, but for our future we’ve made another decision. I wish him all the best because he’s a fantastic goalkeeper. I hope things also go well for him at the World Cup.”
The German manager’s matter-of-fact delivery suggests this decision has been in the works for some time, though it will leave many Barça supporters absolutely gobsmacked.
Champions League focus
Despite the shocking goalkeeper news, Flick is keeping his eyes on the prize against Slavia Prague in their seventh Champions League league phase match:
“When you play in a competition like this and for Barcelona, your objective is to win the Champions League. We have this goal in our career. I hope tomorrow we can show it.”
The gaffer made it clear what Barcelona’s ambitions are:
- Win both upcoming matches to secure six points
- Finish in the top eight positions
- Demonstrate improvement after the disappointing Anoeta defeat
“We have the potential to improve and we have to do it,” Flick insisted. “We continue with the same approach - we have to win every match and train to improve. That’s what we always do. We have a very young team.”
Team updates
On the fitness front, there’s positive news regarding Raphinha, who trained yesterday and should be available for selection. Flick also addressed concerns about Pedri following the recent match:
“I asked him how he was after the game and he was fine. He told me he was fine. He’s very important for this part of the field.”
The temperature in Prague might be on the chilly side, but Flick has adjusted Barcelona’s preparation accordingly, opting to train at the stadium rather than at home before traveling.
“The good thing is that everyone will have to run to stay warm,” he quipped, showing that the cold won’t freeze Barcelona’s Champions League ambitions.