Garcia ready to ease City’s defensive woe
ERIC Garcia feels ready to help City out of their defensive crisis as he brushed off talk of a loan.
Most youngsters at the academy have to go elsewhere before they can make it into the first-team squad given the number of quality players Pep Guardiola has available to him.
The club have broken their record transfer fee in three of the last four transfer windows and are regularly looking to attract the best talent in the world.
Centre-backs Joel Latibeaudiere (FC Twente) and Philippe Sandler (Anderlecht) are among the young players currently out on loan aiming to progress enough to catch the manager’s eye.
There are exceptions to the rule though – Phil Foden is one that City have kept close and have no intention of sending him out to another team because they believe he is better off developing at the Etihad.
Garcia could be another. Txiki Begiristain was delighted to lure the Barcelona youth team captain away from La Masia in 2017.
If his chances of first-team football with City have been improved by Aymeric Laporte’s misfortune, the teenager was already considered an option for the season when the club opted not to meet Leicester’s valuation for Harry Maguire in summer.
Asked about a potential loan, Garcia replied: “I haven’t heard anything of that. I am fully focused on the training session and playing in these type of games.
“With these games, it helps to be ready [for the Premier League] if someday I have the opportunity to play. Those type of games are the ones that are really helping me.”
The 19-year-old agreed that Laporte’s injury does open up an opportunity for more games, but added: “Having the centre-backs we have like John [Stones], Nico [Otamendi] and then Fernandinho can play there, or Rodri did play there and they play really well. I keep working and wait for my opportunity in these kinds of games to prove I can also play.”
Tommy Doyle is the latest youngster in the spotlight after he made his debut during the Carabao Cup win over Southampton. The City midfielder explained afterwards how Sergio Aguero gives ‘fun’ instructions on the pitch, and Garcia drew attention on his debut for his willingness to order Otamendi about without hesitation.
The young defender sees communication as vital to his partnerships at the back and Guardiola’s advice is to try to soak up as much as possible from those around him.
“Just to be confident, be calm and speak with all the players, because they will help,” said Garcia.