Dominating European football, Barcelona still leaves something to be desired between the posts where they harbor perhaps their greatest weakness and one that remains neglected.
A once-legend of the game, Ter Stegen had been on a rough and bumpy road that many say he was forced onto after the 2019 Anfield massacre and the situation took a turn for the worse when he picked up a brutal injury to his right knee at the beginning of the season.
After perhaps years of unsatisfactory goalkeeping, many excitedly assumed Ter Stegen’s injury would open the door for a big signing in the netminding department but the club has other plans.
Ter Stegen is here to stay
However, in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, when asked whether the Blaugranes were seeking a replacement for the injured captain in the upcoming transfer windows, sporting director Deco clarified that they had no such plans.
”No. Marc still has three years left on his contract, he is young for a goalkeeper, 32 years old, and we must focus on him recovering well and coming back in good shape…” stated Deco
Reaffirming his faith in Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Deco also went on to speak of his faith in Inaki Pena who has been filling the German’s shoes, though not with ease.
Struggling to keep up with the demanding role, Pena has had quite a few downs with the Blaugranes though his highs have also reached substantial heights like the clash against Madrid.
While they did bring in Wojciech Szczęsny, the Polsih has yet to see any action on the pitch, a decision which has been the cause of much criticism as the 34-year-old has years of experience on Inaki Pena
It is obvious to all that Barcelona must reinforce its last line of defense if the team hopes to stay consistent and outperform other big teams in pressure-packed games.