Ter Stegen returns to a Cup final five years later

Marc André Ter Stegen (04-30-1992) returns to a Cup final five years later. Basically, he returns to any type of final in a great tournament, because the only ones he has played since are the 2019 Super Cup in Tetuán and the 2021 one in La Cartuja. In the last three Cup finals, the starter at Barça was Cillessen, a Dutch goalkeeper who left a good memory among the fans and who collaborated in the 2017 and 2018 titles; Although he lost the 2019 final to his new club, Valencia.

Ter Stegen played in the 2015 and 2016 finals, when he was Barça's goalkeeper in the Champions League and in the Cup. It was the choice of Luis Enrique, who opted for Bravo for LaLiga. That was burning Ter Stegen for two seasons, who, at 23, thought it little to play just those two competitions because he felt at the same level as the Chilean. So, neither short nor lazy, he planted himself in the office of Robert, then sports director, and threatened to leave for Manchester City if he was still not a starter in LaLiga. It was after the Cup final against Sevilla in 2016, when he supported a Barça that played an hour with one less player against Emery's. Barça made a decision for the future. It was Bravo who went to City.

Ter Stegen ended up becoming a starter in the League and Champions, but left the Cup for Cillessen. This year, however, the situation has changed. Koeman did not like the attitude of Neto in the week before the game against Granada and cleaned him from the eleven in Los Cármenes. Since then, Ter Stegen played the quarterfinals and the semifinals. With Neto out due to injury, but also due to dynamics, the German needs, as much as the club, a title that allows Barça to regain some greatness.

His role in this Cup has already been key. The penalty that he took from Ocampos in the second leg of the semifinal has taken Barça back to La Cartuja, where the Moenchengladbach goalkeeper does have to improve something. In the final of the Super Cup he was hesitant with Athletic's crossed centers. Ter Stegen's aerial balls are made ball, and those that cross the area. Very safe under sticks, and master in one on one, set pieces create more doubts. If Barça wants to be champion, and if he wants to lift his fifth Copa del Rey and his 14th title with Barça, the team needs its best version.