Comment: When Ter Stegen can play in place of Sergio Busquets...
The Barcelona goalkeeper is talented enough on the ball to be an outfield player, says Albert Masnou
The only player without a natural substitute is Sergio Busquets. Luis Enrique has doubles in each position apart from that one, so as the coach says it’s hard to include him in the rotations. Various players, like Mascherano and Andre Gomes, can play there, and have done in the last couple of games. In Gijon Lucho took Busquets off when the game was won again, and the Portuguese took the role.
Lucho has another option though, albeit an extravagant one. Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The German goalkeeper has similar virtues to Busquets in that he has cold blood, excellent play with his feet, and can quickly locate his team-mates on the field. Ter Stegen has better control of the ball than most players on the opposition team - and some players who play at Barcelona! It would be a delight to watch the German during the rondos in training. He’d surely be one of the best and hardly ever caught out and made to go in the middle. Ter Stegen could play pivote for Barcelona without problems. He’s Xavi with gloves.
But Ter Stegen plays between the sticks. Or better to say, 5 metres in front of his goal-line. His presence, in this position, brings Barcelona a new variant of tactic to use when it comes to distribution of play. It happened with Bravo, but with Ter Stegen in goal this characteristic has sharpened. There is a pivote in the midfield and one in the area. Barcelona’s game is richer for it, in variables, alternatives. It gives them a new dimension.
You have to accept there’s always a moment in the game where Ter Stegen isn’t in control of the level of risk. A moment that scares the fans. There are two things to take into account. 1) He’s young, like Valdes was when he made mistakes, and 2) He won’t get scared. So patience, and get used to it.
