FC Barcelona return to motion this Saturday after the worldwide break as they tackle native rivals Girona at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
Having misplaced back-to-back matches earlier than the break, in opposition to PSG and Sevilla, Barcelona will probably be desperate to bounce again strongly and get their marketing campaign again on observe with none extra slip-ups.
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The sport in opposition to Girona will thus be an vital one for the group, whereas it’s going to even be particular for a sure Eric Garcia.
In spite of everything, it was throughout his mortgage spell with Girona, throughout the 2023/24 season, that the 24-year-old star rediscovered his type after having endured a troublesome run at Barça.
Garcia grateful to Girona, Michel for his success
Talking in an unique interview with , Garcia admitted that the match in opposition to Girona means so much to him.
“Sure [it is still a special match], I had an unimaginable yr there. We had a season that can go down in historical past, qualifying Girona for the Champions League. I feel we had an unimaginable group, additionally on a human stage,” mentioned Garcia.
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“Michel helped me so much in my profession. I inform him that always and I want all of them the perfect.”
Eric is grateful to Girona boss Michel. (Photograph by Alex Caparros/Getty Photographs)
Additional speaking about what Michel meant to him and the way the Girona boss extracted the perfect out of him, the Barcelona defender famous:
“Effectively, a little bit of the boldness I wanted and that each participant wants. He additionally opened the door for me to play a bit extra out large, to have the ability to play in several positions.
“Till then, I used to be a bit reluctant to depart my consolation zone, and he sort of tricked me. In the future in Cadiz, he mentioned, ‘You’re solely going to play right here at present,’ and I ended up enjoying there the entire season. I ended up believing it, and it labored out rather well.”
Garcia didn’t hesitate to credit score Michel for his present success, saying: “A giant a part of it’s due to him, and I informed him so on the time.
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“He trusted me when possibly lots of people didn’t, and he gave me that confidence, that chance to continue to grow and enhancing. He’s a really strict coach; he exhibits you quite a lot of video footage that can assist you enhance, and I feel that was crucial for me.”
On rejecting Girona return
In the course of the interview, Garcia additionally touched upon the likelihood that arose for him to return to Girona in the course of the final season and the way Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick stopped the exit.
Garcia might have returned to Girona in January. (Photograph by Denis Doyle/Getty Photographs)
“Final yr, there was a time once I wasn’t getting a lot enjoying time. Clearly, I had the choice of returning to Girona, I knew Michel was there. Ultimately, I feel I made the fitting determination,” acknowledged Garcia.
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Speaking about when Flick stepped in and the way he satisfied him, the previous Manchester Metropolis ace added:
“Sure, I feel the turning level was the Benfica recreation, as a result of the switch window was nonetheless open. I feel that recreation modified all the pieces a bit.
“It’s true that I used to be getting extra enjoying time in these matches. You come on in opposition to Benfica, rating the aim, the group comes again.
“There are some matches that, for some cause, change your state of affairs a bit, and from then on, I feel I knew the best way to reap the benefits of my alternatives and earn the supervisor’s belief.”
Now a key member of Flick’s group, , given his present one expires on the finish of the season.