Xavi full of praise for record-breaking goalkeeper

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen | Imago

Xavi full of praise for record-breaking goalkeeper

Ayoola Kelechi 06:13 - 24.04.2023

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has hailed goalkeeper ter Stegen as one of the best in the world as the German equals an all-time club record

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has extolled the qualities of current Blaugrana goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen who recently equalled the club’s record for the most clean sheets in one season. 

Ter Stegen shines in Barcelona’s win over a dog

Ter Stegen showed his quality again for Barcelona when they played against Atletico Madrid and kept a clean sheet to help the Blaugrana to a 1-0 win. 

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.ug/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

In the process, ter Stegen kept his 23rd clean sheet of the 2022/23 campaign and has equalled the highest number of shut-outs for Barcelona since Claudio Bravo reached that figure in the 2014/15 seasons. 

Xavi adamant that ter Stegen is one of the best 

Speaking after the game, Xavi said he was certain that his goalkeeper who has only conceded nine LaLiga goals in the league this season ranks as one of the best goalkeepers in the world as he continues to break records while waiting for Barcelona’s imminent coronation as Kings of Spain. 

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.ug/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

Xavi said, “Marc André ter-Stegen is among the three best goalkeepers in the world and because of our game I think he is the best”.

Ter Stegen’s incredible performances as number-one choice for the Catalan giants has helped them reach the brink of summer honours, barring an incredible collapse in the season's final eight games. 

Xavi and Barcelona fans will be hoping that ter Stegen can continue his streak of clean sheets, and will be hoping that German shot-stopper can help them tie up the league title in Blaugrana ribbons. 

Ter Stegen can also break the league’s record of 26 clean sheets set by Francisco Liano who reached the milestone in the 1993/994 season. 

Barcelona who are faced with a trip to Rayo Vallecano in their next fixture, will be hoping to move a step closer to securing their first LaLiga title since the 2018/3019 season. 

Related content