When Eric Garcia returned to Barcelona in June 2021, Ronald Koeman was the coach, Messi wore number 10 and Piqué, the footballer in whom he always saw himself reflected on the field, was the undisputed starter with the number 3. His friend was also waiting for him Ansu Fati. Both had shared five years at La Masia. “I want to play with him at the Camp Nou. It’s something we talked about when we were little, â€said Eric in his presentation. And they did. Until they both ran into two different walls.
Ansu Fati was injured in November 2020. Between operations, injuries and relapses, he inherited Messi’s 10 and missed 80 games. While his friend tried to recover mentally and physically, Eric Garcia ran into an unwavering defense with the signings of Koundé and Christensen and the solvency of Araújo. Not even Piqué’s departure helped him. The ostracism of both friends was almost total in the World Cup in Qatar. Eric Garcia returned without playing a single minute. Ansu Fati did not do much better. His participation was 44 minutes. The regression of both was unquestionable.
Xavi had been meditating a solution for both of them for a long time. In Elche he took out his slate and Eric Garcia reunited with his past as a pivot. A position that he had not held since he played at the Barça Academy, before La Masia. In his years in the lower teams from AlevÃn to Cadet he was always captain and central. “The idea came from Jordi Cruyff. We have placed him there for his level of reading of the game and his handling of the ball. He has enjoyed a lot, he has a level. We have a pivotâ€, Xavi congratulated himself yesterday. And Eric Garcia responded with a game in which, without being too demanding, he was able to recover good feelings with accurate passes, good openings at the first touch to Alba’s band and two recoveries. “I’ve trained in this position and although I’m a center back, I think I can fit inâ€, explained the player. “It seemed to me that I’d been playing as a pivot all my lifeâ€, added Ferran Torres.
A released Ansu Fati also smiled who, in his most difficult week after his father’s statements, scored again. He received the ball from Ferran in the Barça field, dodged past Martorell and scored with a low shot with his right foot. More than five months had passed since his last goal in the League. Yesterday’s was the fourth in the competition. He celebrated it with the whole team. Also with Balde, who hugged him from the bench. When he left in the 84th minute, Xavi congratulated him and he thanked him for the gesture with his usual smile. “He is an incredible player who works a lot. May he enjoy it and score another on Wednesday against Madrid â€, Eric wished him.
