Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique has defended the form of Marc-Andre Ter Stegen after his side shipped four goals in a surprise defeat to Celta Vigo on Wednesday.
Ter Stegen, 23, has primarily been used as the club’s goalkeeper in the Champions League since he joined last summer, but his performances have been under the microscope after he conceded a goal from almost the halfway line against Roma earlier this month.
However, Enrique insists the Germany U21 international isn’t the only one culpable for Barcelona’s recent woes at the back.
“I don’t know what you’ve said or written so I can’t comment on any criticism,” he is quoted as saying by Goal.com. “But criticism is part of the DNA of being a professional and being a goalkeeper has helped the team or not.
“The goals we concede are not the fault of Bravo, Ter Stegen or Jordi Masip – it’s the responsibility of the whole team.
“We need to concede fewer goals but up to Celta our defensive stats were very good. I don’t think the team has lost intensity; the problem is we played a team who played better than us
“Their individuals produced goals when needed and that’s what the game was. In defence we need to improve but we played a very good Celta team who were better than Barca.”
Of players to have made at least three appearances across Europe’s top five leagues this season, only four players have garnered a lower WhoScored rating than Ter Stegen (5.93).
For more stats on Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
