Girona has changed Eric Garcia, (Martorell, 2001). Since his arrival at Montilivi, on the last day of the summer transfer window, the Catalan centre-back has become an essential part of European football’s revelation team. A Girona that marvels at his play and the numbers he credits – 34 points in 13 games – which has allowed him to stand at this point as the sole leader of the League for the first time in its entire history. In conversation with La Vanguardia, Eric Garcia values ??the sweet moment that the team is going through, his personal moment after leaving on loan from Barça and the options he sees from now on once his permanence is practically guaranteed in record time.
Is he in his prime or is it too bold to make this statement?
I don’t know because I am one of those who believe that you can always improve. If we take as an example a player like Messi, who improves every day, imagine what the rest of us can do.
But in Girona you have become a fixture for Míchel and on the pitch you convey great confidence…
It is true that from the first day the coach gave me complete confidence, even though I arrived with the season started and when the team was already playing very good football. At that time it was already difficult to introduce variations, and he, on the other hand, was daring and immediately bet on me. We won in Granada and I have been able to continue playing. I’m very happy.
What does the coach ask of you?
We all know that this Girona has a very similar idea of ????the game to what I have always played in the clubs where I have been. Míchel is a very demanding coach when it comes to coming out with the ball under control, and the fact that he wants that is a big plus for me.
But despite the similarities, we are seeing a version of Eric Garcia very different from that of Barça. Because?
All players go through good and bad moments, we evolve, we have to acclimatize, which by the way has not cost me anything at Girona… I think that with Barça I also had good games, but it is true that in Girona Things are going almost perfectly for me.
Had you lost confidence at Barça?
No, there are always better days and worse days, but self-confidence can never be lost. I am very aware of my level and I have always known what I can aspire to.
He has even been on the verge of playing again with the senior Spanish team…
Yes, for me being on the pre-list has already been a big step. I would have preferred to be on the final list, logically, but I am very happy that they called Aleix Garcia and that he was able to make his debut. He deserves it. In some way, he represents everything we are doing at the beginning of the season with Girona.
And throughout this process, have you used any type of external help to take care of your mental health, as you had acknowledged on some occasion?
Yes. I think that this help always works well, not just when things don’t go as one would want. I think it is essential for everyone, including athletes. We have life beyond football, and when I talk about my mental health with a professional it is not always about football issues.
Could you imagine that changing Barça for Girona could be so positive for you?
I was convinced to come to Girona because I trusted that I would have more opportunities to play. A team that last season already showed that it knows how to do things very well, with a coach who is committed to a style that benefits my football… Everything seems ideal, but no one could imagine that we would find ourselves leaders at this point.
Was it that clear? Didn’t you consider other options?
No. When I made the decision to want to go out on loan for a year, I always said that it had to be to go to Girona.
So, was the decision yours alone? Or did Barça’s financial needs help?
Yes, surely. The truth is that I asked to go on loan before the market closed and, initially, Barça told me no. But later they thought about it. I think it was a club decision to be able to register the players they had just signed. But also the decision to leave and the first one who asked to do it was me because I wanted to play.
What will happen at the end of the season, once the loan is over? The way things are going for him, perhaps he would prefer to stay in Girona…
No, I know that I am here for one year and that I have a contract with Barça. The only thing I think about right now is continuing to enjoy this magnificent season.
Do you see yourself in Girona doing a Leicester?
Hopefully! But things in football can change very quickly and we don’t know what will happen. A few weeks ago everything seemed more like a matter of luck, the result of this winning inertia that we had. But now people are starting to think that it is not a coincidence. We have to continue working as before and try to get as many points as we can before Christmas. Then we’ll see where we are.
Once the objective of permanence has expired, is it now the objective of trying to go to the Champions League?
I don’t know, but we have earned the right to dream. Let’s see how far we can go. But, as I say, the season is very long and we have to think that there are teams that, although they have not started so well, are a priori made to finish on top. There will be war until the end.
Accustomed to playing alongside superstars, what do you think of much less high-profile players like Savinho, Dovbyk or Tsygankov?
Great, because they are giving a spectacular performance despite being unknown. We already faced Tsygankov last year in the League but if I have to be honest I didn’t know either Artem or Savinho and, obviously, they surprised me a lot. In any case, that speaks very well of the work that Quique Cárcel and the coach have done.
And with all these elements, do you see yourself capable of going to Montjuïc, a few days after the break, to also win?
First we will try to beat Athletic Club and Valencia, which will already be difficult. And when it’s time to play against Barça, we’ll try that too. It will be a very special game for me because, at Barça, apart from teammates, I have friends.
