Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen admits Claudio Bravo's summer switch to Manchester City eased a "difficult situation" as he prepares to return to Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Champions League this week.
Ter Stegen joined Gladbach as a 4-year-old and spent 18 years at the club before his 2014 transfer to Barca.
On Wednesday, he returns for the first time since leaving over two years ago, and he does so having ousted Bravo in the battle to be Luis Enrique's first-choice keeper.
After job-sharing for two seasons, Bravo decided to accept a new challenge in England with Man City. Ter Stegen insists the two were friends not rivals, but he does concede things have improved since the Chilean's departure.
"I always had a good relationship with my teammate [Bravo], although last year was difficult because we both wanted to play," he said in a pregame news conference on Tuesday.
"I don't want to think about [if a third year with Bravo was possible], it's in the past and I've left it to one side. It doesn't worry me now. I'm thinking about the games from now on.
"It was a difficult situation for all of us, because Jordi [Masip] wanted to play as well. My situation has improved [this season] and that's what matters to me."
Pressed about whether he could have left the Catalan club if Bravo hadn't, Ter Stegen preferred to focus on the present rather than hypothesising about what might have happened in other circumstances.
"It's something I'm not worried about now," he added when asked if he would have considered his own future if Bravo had not moved to the Premier League.
Ter Stegen looking forward to 'special' homecoming: https://t.co/FBLsQAwIjq #BorussiaFCB #FCBlive pic.twitter.com/O1Fey92liJ
- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 27, 2016
"All players in the team want to play and give 100 percent on the pitch. The situation was difficult for us both and he's found a solution which is better. I'm here with Barca and I'm not thinking about other teams."
Ter Stegen is now looking forward to taking on his former teammates at Borussia Park on Wednesday. However, his focus on ensuring Barca win -- which is the reason he felt he had to leave Germany -- overrides the emotion which comes with a return to his hometown.
"When you leave a club you've spent 18 years at it is because you want to play for a team where you can win as many titles as possible and with Barcelona I have the chance to do that," he stated.
"It will be a special moment [to return], something I want to enjoy, but I have already said I'm focused 100 percent on winning the game."
Barca coach Luis Enrique is wary of the threat Gladbach will pose as he looks to build on an opening day 7-0 win against Celtic in Group C.
The Bundesliga side have won all three of their home league games so far this season and Luis Enrique acknowledges his side must be at their very best to get a result.
"They're a formidable side at home and we will have to produce a top performance to beat them," he said. "They're well organised and press the ball high. They're dangerous without the ball, but I would add to that that with the ball they know what they're doing.
"They have quick, quality players in attack who score a lot of goals, although they've also conceded a few. We have to nullify their strengths and if we don't we will suffer."