Excellent reports about Joan García (Sallent, 2001) have been circulating in the sports city of Dani Jarque for years. His physical conditions (1.91 m height) and techniques made him progress successfully from the cadet team, where he joined Espanyol in 2016, to the first team. Eight years later, and after a long and by no means simple process, García is Espanyol’s starting goalkeeper for Manolo González. A step that the Perica sports management understands is natural. Reports today indicate that he must be the owner of the goal for the next decade. This if a sale, necessary to survive, does not cross the road. At the moment he has a contract until 2028 and, in addition to promotion, the Olympic Games appear as the other objective of the season.
Does the dressing room believe in promotion?
Of course. I see them very motivated. There are many teams fighting it. It will be long and until the last week or until the last two we will have the possibility of everything. We have to keep a very cool head and work hard every game. We have to think about ourselves and not about other people’s results.
How has the change of coach affected the team?
The group has always supported all the coaches 100% and that with so much change is complicated. But we are very united. We try to adapt quickly to this change.
He has been at Espanyol for eight years. Has the process to get to this point been worth it?
Yes, without a doubt. I have been at the club for a long time, but until this year I had not had continuity in the first team. It’s not always your turn to play and even more so to be a goalkeeper, but the most important thing is to be prepared.
Has it been too long to not play?
It’s complicated, you spend moments of everything. Some in which he is more motivated and others in which you are less so. But you never know when it’s your turn.
The debut was not the dream two seasons ago. How do you live with criticism?
At the beginning the matches did not go as I would have liked, but that is also part of learning. I’ve always said it, if I had done a partisan at the beginning I wouldn’t have learned half of what I learned. It got to me a lot when I was younger and I gave a little more importance to criticism than I do now, but it has served me well. I have focused on it in a good way. Without the criticism, I wouldn’t be the goalkeeper I am today.
Did you have a bad time?
At that moment it is bad. Everyone wants to play the best matches. But seeing it from the outside and with time, I think it has helped me more than it has harmed me.
The club has expanded the area of ??psychology. How important is this in a goalkeeper?
A lot and for many reasons. You can go a long time without playing and you have to be ready every day to intervene, because it can happen to you. And you have to know how to handle the error. In a goalkeeper it is much more definitive. If you want to play at a high level for a long time, you have to work on this facet.
In the middle of this whole process he agreed to renew until 2028.
In recent years I haven’t played much, but I trust the club and its people and my dream remains the same: to be Espanyol’s goalkeeper in the First Division. And I knew that this was something that could not be fulfilled in the short term, which is why I renewed so many years.
Did you have offers to leave in January?
I valued going out on loan to gain minutes. I spoke with the club and my environment and we made a common decision. I knew that if I worked well the opportunity could come.
Do you feel more mature?
Years have passed since I debuted. I was very young and little by little you gain the maturity and confidence you need.
What makes you stand out as a goalkeeper?
I consider myself a brave goalkeeper. With my footwork I like to find passes and I have the confidence to do so. On balls in the area I have to continue working to be more confident. I feel very comfortable coming out with the ball from the back, but also with other styles.
What are the Olympics for you?
Any athlete dreams of going to the Games. If I’m called up I’ll enjoy it, but now I’m focused on promotion.
