Barcelona captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been under fire following a costly mistake in the recent UEFA Champions League clash against AS Monaco. The German goalkeeper’s error led to Eric Garcia’s early red card, and he later conceded two goals that many believe could have been avoided.
The fallout from the defeat has seen fans calling for a change between the posts, with some even suggesting that Ter Stegen’s time as Barcelona’s first-choice goalkeeper might be coming to an end. Adding fuel to the fire, Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal made a surprising choice during a recent interview with the Kings’ League social media channels.
In his ideal 7-a-side team, Yamal opted for Inaki Pena as the goalkeeper instead of Ter Stegen. This decision, coming so soon after the German’s critical error, is sure to raise eyebrows among fans and the media alike.
For the rest of his lineup, Yamal selected Barcelona teammates Pau Cubarsi and Ronald Araujo as defenders, with Pedri and Gavi controlling the midfield. Up front, he placed himself alongside Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, who has been linked with a move to Barcelona. Yamal rounded off his fantasy team by choosing current Barça coach Hansi Flick as the manager, with the team colors being the iconic blue and red of Barcelona.
While Yamal’s choice of Pena over Ter Stegen is unlikely to be more than a personal preference, it comes at a time when Ter Stegen is facing intense scrutiny from fans and pundits alike. Time will tell if this moment marks a turning point for the veteran goalkeeper or if he can bounce back stronger in the upcoming matches.
