Eric Garcia: “During the season I had good performance, but it was not up to me to go to the World Cup”

FC Barcelona footballer Eric Garcia does not hide that he was “very excited” to be able to play in the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada with the Spanish team and that he has achieved this thanks to his “good performance” throughout the season and a versatility that he gained with his move to Girona FC.

“It is true that I was very excited to come here for another World Cup. I knew that it did not depend on me, but I think that during the season I have had a good performance, especially the team as well, and in the end I am grateful to be here,” said Garcia at the ‘Media Day’ of the Spanish team.

The Catalan recalled that when he went to Girona FC a few years ago he found what he was “looking for.” “Later, when I returned to Barça, at first it was true that it was a bit difficult, but then it has improved a lot. Adapting to different positions I also think has helped me a lot, so I am grateful for the whole journey and all the change to now be here,” he stressed.

“Obviously I would have liked to have regularity at Barça, but I think that at that moment the best thing was to leave. I already started playing as a center back, also as a winger and I think that made me grow a lot and in the end obviously with the season we had (Girona FC’s Champions League qualification) everything became better and more beautiful, and then it made it easier for me to return to Barça,” he added in this regard.

The Blaugrana player confessed that his teammates were “a bit bastards” because they kept making “jokes” about whether he would be called up or not, and he made it clear that the fact that there are eight FC Barcelona players “is also a reward for the season” they have had. “Hopefully we can finish it in the best way,” he said.

For the Olympic runner-up, Spain has “a great team” and “great players” for this World Cup. “It is true that there are also very good teams, with good players, but I think that if we do things the way we have to do them and we are at our level, we will have many possibilities,” he warned, recognizing that it is helpful that the team has “the same idea” as his club.

“From humility, we have always tried to push ourselves forward. We know that in the end we are all here to win the World Cup, but so are all the teams, so we have to go game by game and dream of the biggest,” said the versatile FC Barcelona player.

He sees Lamine Yamal well despite his injury. “I have seen him train these couple of days, it is true that he has not trained with us, and I have seen him very well. I hope he can train with us again soon,” he commented of the winger and teammate.

“I don’t think I have to say much to Lamine, he already knows perfectly well what it’s like to play in big competitions and has a level to spare. I’m sure he’s going to help us,” he added. “Whether we win the World Cup or not, for me he will continue to be the best player, and if we win it, even more,” he replied about whether he would deserve the Ballon d’Or if Spain wins the title.

Garcia also joked about whether he looks like a veteran despite being 25 years old. “Yes, looking at the young people of today, who are from 2007, maybe I am a little bit,” he highlighted. “I think I’ve been lucky enough to be in important clubs like when I went to City too, at Barça, and the year in Girona also made me grow a lot,” he added.

The one from Martorell will play “wherever” Luis de la Fuente asks him to. “When there are so many games in a row, unfortunately in football there can be injuries or sanctions, so I may have to adapt to any position,” said the international, who has “controlled” what depended on him to get on the list, which was to “play and perform well.” “I was satisfied because I believed I had done the job well and in the end the prize arrived,” he celebrated.