Barcelona suffered a very big blow earlier in the season when Marc-Andre ter Stegen was excluded with a serious knee injury, sustained during the 5-1 victory in Villarreal in September. It meant that Hansi Flick would be for a longer period without his starting goalkeeper and captain, in which many believed that the German international would not play again in the current campaign.
The absence of Ter Stegen meant that Wojciech Szczesny was introduced as a replacement, and despite the fact that he had started in the pecking order behind Inaki Pena, he has taken over the number one goalkeeper in recent weeks. However, the Polish veteran can also lose the gloves later this season.
That's because Ter Stegen wants to return for Barcelona's last few games of the season, as reported by Sport. The 32-year-old recovery is much better than expected, with the latest medical checks that confirm that he is ahead of schedule.
Earlier this weekend, Flick gave an update on Ter Stegen's recovery, and the goalkeeper reported that he has informed the coaching staff that he believes he will play back in May. This would be a crucial time for Barcelona, who are still looking for the La Liga and Champions League titles in that phase.
Barcelona has struggled in the goals this season, although that may be due to the aggressive playing style that Flick plays his side. Szczesny has had a number of controversial mistakes in recent weeks, so if Ter Stegen is back before the end of the season, there would certainly be the chances that he immediately regains the gloves.
However, it is much more likely that he will no longer open for Barcelona this season, even when he is fit again. It would be a great risk to play someone who did not characterize for eight months in the crucial period of the season, and Flick will be aware of this.
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