Ter Stegen talks about everything and everyone in the podcast ‘Phrasenmäher’. One of those he refers to is Messi. The Barcelona goalkeeper, who is recovering from injury, has revealed what his relationship with the Argentine was like during his time at the Catalan club. The two experienced moments of tension, as the goalkeeper has acknowledged.
“I think Leo is probably the only player who, if he wants to throw a ball in your face, can do it. The others would probably shoot anywhere, but he has the ability to hit the target,” said Ter Stegen.
Leo is probably the only player who, if he wants to throw a ball in your face, can do it
Ter Stegen comments that there were stages in which their relationship did not go through a good time, but it all stayed there. They were only specific moments. “Leo is a special character at this level because he is motivated by many things that we don’t see, I think. We’ve had moments where things didn’t work out between us because he was upset with me and I was upset with him. But not angry at all, in the sense that it dragged on or anything like that,” he said on the‘Phrasenmäher’ podcast.
We’ve had times when things didn’t work out between us because he was upset with me and I was upset with him. But not angry at all
The German praised Messi. The quality of the player on the pitch is unquestionable according to the goalkeeper:“Leo is simply an impressive character on the pitch, and plays with a lightness that will never be seen again, I’m 100% sure of that. He has the ability: if he wants to make you look bad, he does it so easily, and with a pass or a shot that afterwards you’ll say: ‘That was impossible!’. And I’ve experienced that many times. And that’s why I’m also glad that I always had him with me in the games and not on the other side.”
He has the ability: if he wants to make you look bad, he does it so easily, and with a pass or a shot that afterwards you will say: ‘That was impossible!’
Leo is not a big mouth, he works a lot with presence and needs to say relatively little, really. And when he says something, everyone listens
A benchmark
Ter Stegen also recognised the leadership role that Messi exercised at Barcelona. “We never argued, to say that we didn’t get along at all. But we had our moments, and that’s OK. We were together in the dressing room for a long time, and it was certainly interesting to have him in the team and see how he leads. Whether or not it’s my style, it was interesting to see. Leo is not a loudmouth, he works a lot with presence and needs to say relatively little, really. And when he says something, everyone listens,” he said on the ‘Phrasenmäher’ podcast.
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