Storm clouds on the horizon by Eric Garcia. Signed last summer from Manchester City to lead a new cycle of Barça defence, certain movements of Barça allow us to guess that, to this day, the Barça coaching staff does not consider him an indisputable. It has not been when Piqué and Araújo were healthy; and it will not be because of what is coming in the transfer market. In the absence of a signature, Andreas Christensen will be a Barça player the next four or five seasons. Not only that. Xavi has strongly requested the signing of Koundé, that the Barça club already tried last season without success. This year, the chances that it bears fruit are also few. Behind, in the list of preferences, is Koulibaly. Come one or the other, even if no one ends up arriving, it is clear that Xavi sees deficiencies in defense. And that directly affects Eric.
Beyond specific games like the one at the Bernabéu, where he was superb (with the asterisk that Benzema did not play that day and the difficulties were less because Ancelotti invented Modric as a fake), the center-back has appeared in too many photos of rival goals. Eric started the season with a red card at San Mamés (after a good debut, yes, against Real) and He has ended up giving away a decisive penalty on the day of Eintracht. Along the way, he was soft in the defeat against Cádiz and has had the occasional error of consideration. He is missing forcefulness in the clash and concentration to avoid gifts.
Despite his 21 years, Eric is a player with a well-furnished head and a capacity for self-criticism. He understands Barça’s model of play and knows that it is not easy to settle into that type of defense unless he is privileged like Piqué when he landed in 2008. He will know how to give himself time but, like any footballer, he also needs confidence.
He has surely learned from the best, such as Guardiola at City; and he has the backing, very important, of Luis Enrique in the National Team. With Xavi it is costing him more. That request from Koundé may make him suspect that faith is not blind in him. But the coach is also within his rights to request reinforcements for the back because Umtiti and Lenglet have been a drag in recent times and nobody knows how long Piqué’s physique will last. Xavi has asked for speed and that is not Christensen’s forte. Eric is a player who risks advancing the line. Perhaps that has played a trick on him this course. What is clear is that next season is going to be a sensational challenge for the Olympic medalist.