A club is not only defined by the players on the field. The attitude of the lesser featuring players and their willingness to contribute when called upon is critical to the team’s setup, and thus becomes an integral part of a manager’s job.
Barcelona admit that Eric Garcia is a top professional in that aspect. The centre-back is one of the players that works the hardest and performs best in training, and the coaching staff are delighted with his attitude.
When Xavi spoke to the media ahead of Barcelona’s clash against Cadiz, he had similar words of praise for Eric Garcia and admitted that he had been unfair to the La Masia graduate.
“I’ve been unfair to Eric Garcia. He trains well. He never complains and is positive with a smile. He deserves more minutes.”
The manager lived up to his words and gave Garcia a start against Cadiz in the absence of Ronald Araujo who was unavailable through suspension. At Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday, the centre-back was rock-solid and helped Barcelona oversee a clean sheet.
The 22-year-old played the entire 90 minutes on the night, producing a staggering nine clearances, two interceptions and blocking one shot. Further, he won four duels and completed close to 95% of his 98 attempted passes.
With Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo playing at their best, it is undoubtedly difficult for the youngster to secure a regular starting spot soon. Yet, such performances will go a long way in earning Xavi’s trust and getting more chances through rotation as the hectic schedule unravels.
