Ivan Rakitic has backed Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen
to remain crucial to the Camp Nou club, despite errors creeping into his
game this season.
Ivan Rakitic has backed
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to remain crucial to the Camp
Nou club, despite errors creeping into his game this season.
Designated
Barca's cup goalkeeper, Ter Stegen contributed to last season's treble
success by playing all of their Copa del Rey and Champions League games,
although he did not taste a minute of La Liga action as Claudio Bravo
was given the nod.
Ter Stegen has come in for
criticism this term, having conceded a 50-yard goal from Mikel San Jose
in Barca's Supercopa de Espana defeat to Athletic Bilbao, as well as an
Alessandro Florenzi effort from the touchline when Luis Enrique's men
visited Roma in the Champions League.
Both times
Ter Stegen's positioning was in question as he was lobbed from
long??range, but Rakitic remains confident that the Germany
international is good enough for the Catalan club.
Rakitic told Kicker: "He's incredibly ambitious, already one of the best goalkeepers in the world although he is only 23.
"I am overjoyed that he is behind us. We trust him 100 per cent and I get along with him very well."
On
Ter Stegen's early-season mishaps, Rakitic said: "These were not errors
from him, because you have to congratulate the scorer, who scored from
50 metres.
"You couldn't do it a second time.
"He will not become the world's best goalkeeper overnight but Marc is working hard.
"Marc has huge qualities, it is very important for us that he is always ready."
Post a Comment