After a tricky debut season back at Barcelona in 2021/22, Eric Garcia is coming into his own in the new campaign.
The 21-year-old returned to the Catalan club from Manchester City last year but did not have the easiest of initiations. However, having now settled in at Camp Nou, Garcia has emerged as one of Barcelona’s best performers in the new season.
The Spanish centre-back set down for an interview with RAC1 on Thursday night during which he discussed a host of topics ranging from his debut campaign back at Barcelona and his teammates and the new signings made this summer.
Eric Garcia was full of praise for Ousmane Dembele, who has been playing brilliantly under Xavi. The 21-year-old defender highlighted the Frenchman’s performance in Wednesday’s Champions League encounter against Viktoria Plzen, as he said:
“Yesterday’s [Wednesday’s] match shows the talent he has. The tackle in the third goal that surprised everyone, is something he has and that we have seen in training.”
Eric also reflected on his difficult first season back at Barcelona and shed light on why things had improved for him this term, saying: “Everything was a bit new. The first months were complicated. This summer, I was able to do the pre-season and work more calmly.”
The defender also hailed Xavi’s influence on him, as he said: “Since he arrived, he has given me a lot of confidence and this year is the same. In the end, everything depends on me, on how I perform. There is nothing more.”
Talking about the competition for places in the side, the ex-Manchester City ace insisted that it was for the team and would benefit them over the course of the season.
“This is very good for the team because it forces you to take advantage of the minutes and every opportunity you have. Otherwise, whoever comes behind can take your place,” he said
Eric also was full of praise for veteran defender Gerard Pique, who has found game-time hard to come by this season.
“Pique helped me from day one. We will all have our minutes. He has shown that he has a level. For me, he is one of the best central defenders there has been and he still is. Whether he plays or doesn’t play, he’s here to help us,” he said.
Further discussing the reduced playing time for veterans like Pique and Jordi Alba, he added: “I don’t see starters or substitutes. Until now we played one game a week, now there’s one every three days. I think that Jordi and Gerard will end up getting minutes because they have a level.”
During the interview, Eric Garcia also hailed new signing Robert Lewandowski and compared him to Barcelona icon Luis Suarez. At the same time, he picked out Raphinha as the new arrival who had surprised him the most, saying:
“I followed the Premier League and played against him, but here from the beginning his adaptation has been very fast and he has shown incredible things. And more importantly, he has a great defensive commitment.”
The 21-year-old insisted that he was not surprised by the qualities shown by another new signing, Jules Kounde. “He has not surprised me. I had seen him from Sevilla. He is a total defender. He performs very well in all positions and it is great luck that he is with us,” he said.
Talking about his defensive partner Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia hailed him as a ‘beast’ while also adding that playing alongside the Uruguayan had forced him to improve several aspects of his game.
“Ronald is a beast. He is very clear. And my ball output is something I have worked hard on. I am also working on my physique. We understand each other very well,” the Spanish international said.
Dembele recently said in an interview that he saw Garcia as a future Barcelona captain. When asked if he had aspirations to don the captain’s armband for the Blaugrana, the centre-back replied:
“I have been a captain in the lower categories at Barça and City. But here in the short term, I think we have some very good captains, who are club legends. And I will not go into this subject.”
Talking about the start to the season and the belief in the dressing room, Garcia said: “Inside the locker room we have a feeling of stability and of working well. We know how things are going.”
As for the team’s objectives for the season, the defender added: “After the game against Rayo, it seemed that we were not going to win anything and now we have won four in a row and we are back there.
“It is important that the team be clear about the things we are doing well and those that have to be improved. With the squad we have and at the club we are at, we have to fight for everything.”
