Ter Stegen feels tension on his return to the Johan Cruijff Arena

Marc‑André Ter Stegen, the German goalkeeper who is under contract with Ajax this season, will appear again at the Johan Cruijff Arena on Thursday, this time in the Germany kit. He thereby completes his home matches in the stadium and gets the chance to defend his national team.

Loan agreement and role at Ajax

Ter Stegen is being loaned this season by Ajax from FC Barcelona. The expensive German keeper is supposed to make life easier for Míchel Sánchez in the Arena, but last weekend that proved not to be the case. In the 1‑2 defeat against Aymen Sliti the last line appeared doubtful and he should have cleared the cross to the winger better.

Jürgen Klopp quickly indicated that, after the retirement of Manuel Neuer, Ter Stegen is the new first goalkeeper of the German national team. After 44 internationals, Thursday will bring his 45th cap, and Klopp told his compatriots that the Ajax keeper is in the starting eleven.

In a press conference Ter Stegen showed that he is relieved to be part of the team again. “It is always special. Things did not go as I had imagined, physically speaking. Afterwards I have worked hard to make this possible again,” said the keeper.

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He continued with an honest insight about his past. “I cannot deny that I sometimes doubted. One injury followed another, you start to doubt yourself and nothing feels right anymore. Now I am healthy and I appreciate that,” he said.

Nations League debut for Klopp and Xavi

The Nations League group match A2 between the Netherlands and Germany takes place this Sunday at 20:45 at the Arena. It will be the debut as national coach of Xavi Hernández with the Oranje and of Jürgen Klopp with Die Mannschaft.

Ter Stegen therefore faces a double challenge: he must fulfil both Ajax’s club objectives and the expectations of the German national team. His own words show that he is now mentally stronger and ready to take on both responsibilities.

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The confrontation at the Johan Cruijff Arena will therefore not only represent a club match, but also a personal turning point for the goalkeeper who, after an injury‑laden period, now returns to the national stage with full confidence.