By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Who is the best German goalkeeper? Fans and pundits are in a controversial debate about who should be the national team's number one.
Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen now increased the pressure on his rival, Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer. "I want to push continuously until national coach Joachim Loew is choosing me as the German number one," the 26-year-old commented.
Loew recently announced to stick to 32-year-old Neuer until the 2020 European Championships. "If nothing unusual happens is Manuel Neuer going to be our number one until 2020," the 59-year-old 2014 World Cup winning coach emphasized.
Loew admitted Ter Stegen is on the same level of world class.
Could Ter Stegen's current brilliant performances for his Spanish club make him change his mind?
"He turns into a giant in important games," the daily published Spanish sports newspaper Marca said after Ter Stegen's match winning saves in the Spanish Cup clash against Real Madrid (3-0).
The German tabloid Bild asked its readers "Is Ter Stegen flying past Neuer in the national team now?"
It is not likely that Loew is changing his mind shortly. But it is increasingly getting harder for the German coach to justify his decision. Depending on Neuer's further performance and health status Loew could be forced to change his mind.
Neuer returned to action right before the 2018 World Cup after an eight months long injury break. Recently Neuer missed three games for Bayern due to a thumb injury.
Comparing statistic figures of the national leagues Ter Stegen seems to have captured the lead.
Barca's keeper saved 73 percent of the shots, Neuer only 57. He kept his goal clean in ten games (Neuer only 7) and collected 38 percent of the "golden chances" (Neuer only 27).
Regarding the Champions League, both seem on eye level. 80 percent saves for Ter Stegen (Neuer 79). The Bavarian's keeper kept his goal clean four times (three) and had more saves in important situations (20/17).
This Saturday Loew and German goal-keeper coach Andreas Koepke are going to travel to Spain to attend this week's second El Clasico (La Liga) between Real and Barca.
21 capped Ter Stegen said he has full respect for Neuer's achievements for Germany but "I don't want to make a secret out of my point that the team's rejuvenation should include the goal," the former Moenchengladbach keeper emphasized.
Loew revealed plans to give Ter Stegen the opportunity to play in the German shirt "as he has reached the highest level and is addressing highest demands."
But Loew called Neuer "extremely important" for the German team." He said he didn't intend to play down Ter Stegen's performance but renewed the ranking with Neuer ahead of the Barcelona keeper.
While Loew seems to still puzzle over the German goalkeeper has made 150 capped Lothar Matthaeus made his choice.
Neuer hasn't reached the level "he was on before he got injured and which made him the world's best keeper in four consecutive years." The former Bayern captain said Ter Stegen deserves to be picked as number one as he never got the chance to prove his skills in a major tournament.
Ter Stegen was Germany's number one in the 2017 Confederations Cup due to Neuer's injury. Germany won the final beating Chile 1-0.
Oliver Kahn voted for Neuer stating Bayern's keeper can't be blamed for any mistakes in the national team. "But he has to perform well as others have reached his level," the former German international said.
