Marc-Andre ter Stegen talks Gavi, Pedri, de Jong, highs and lows at Barcelona

Barcelona second captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen has stated that every team needs to have a bad experience in order to learn from their mistakes.

Referring to Barcelona’s infamous 2-8 loss against Bayern Munich, the German stopper pressed that although the defeat was painful, it helped him grow as a person. 

Furthermore, he also added that if any player has not learned anything from it, he is not cut out for a team like Barcelona.

“Both were very important (victory in the Champions League final in 2015 and the 2-8 defeat),” the keeper told El Pais, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo. 

“Bayern’s was very painful, very important to grow as a person. The moment is so hard that you have to go out and take a step forward. If you don’t, you’re not cut out for a team like Barça. And we had players who have done that: grow in that situation,” he added.

The 31-year-old added that there is nothing special in stepping up during good moments. It is in bad times that your character actually comes to light.

“You have to be there in the bad moments because in the good moments, everyone can step forward. It’s natural. But to be there in the hard moments you have to have had bad experiences. You can trust in the delicate moments.”

Explaining himself, he added, “You can’t expect Gavi or Pedri, who are very good footballers but who have been in the team for a short time, to lead in a difficult moment. In five years, it will be something else. 

“We will talk about footballers of a different nature. Look at the case of Frenkie de Jong. He has already gone through difficult moments and it is those moments that we need to take a step forward.”

Also referring to Barcelona’s latest triumph in the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid, he said that victories like these are very important for the young generation.

“The Spanish Super Cup was very important for us. Especially for the young people. So that they can experience the feeling of winning a final with a lot of pressure, for the next one they will know how to adapt.”

Lastly, he admitted he has always followed one procedure and that has been the key to his success. He added that there will be good moments and then there will be bad, but the learnings you take from it define you.

“I really did the same thing as always. We have worked in the same way with Dela (Barça’s goalkeeping coach). There are moments when the career of a player is good, others who are not so much. The important thing is that the career is upward,” he concluded.