Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has confirmed that captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen will return in goal against Real Valladolid. After a serious knee injury, ter Stegen has been out for the last seven months, but once again will wear the armband that the Nuevo Jose Zorrilla.
Ter Stegen went down against Villarreal in late September in severe pain, and was later ruled out with a ligament tear. However the German veteran has been back in training since the end of March, and just over a month later, Flick will return him to the starting XI. Last week he had declared that he could have a chance in La Liga, and Valladolid will be his chance.
“You listen well (laughs). Yes, of course. Marc will be back tomorrow. Can we finish the press conference now? (laughs)
However it may well be that it is ter Stegen’s only chance. Flick went on to confirm reports that Wojciech Szczesny would continue in goal for the final month of the season.
“I think it’s good for goalkeepers to get a few minutes to recover, and that’s what it will be like for ‘Tek.’ Marc is on a good path and his performance in training is fantastic. I’m not thinking about changing anything until the end of the season… I mean it could happen. Marc could play at his level. That’s how things are. For now, Marc plays tomorrow.”