Eric’s rapid rise solves key problem
PEP Guardiola’s face lit up in the press room of Bramall Lane when Aymeric Laporte’s name was mentioned.
Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne had done what they do best to decide the Premier League game with Sheffield United but the story of the night belonged to City’s returning defender.
For everything nice the manager said about his star man, he still steered the conversation towards the man that had replaced him on the night, Eric Garcia.
It is more than a year since the young Spaniard made his debut for the first team but his progress has been rapid in recent months and has made a serious impression on both his coach and senior teammates.
“Eric is an incredible guy,” said Guardiola. “He’s a real defender. All I know is Eric played pre-season last season, this pre-season, in the Champions League or the Carabao Cup, and he never fails. He is always perfect, he never makes mistakes.”
Garcia has surely inked himself into the plans for next season.
It was a considerable mistake not to sign a central defender last summer when Vincent Kompany left and there were doubts over Nicolas Otamendi’s future at the club – Laporte’s injury simply exacerbated the problem.
If the stuttering Premier League title defence has been a disappointment, the emergence of Garcia has at least been a consolation to come out of it.
With Otamendi likely on his way out and John Stones no closer to proving he can be a top class defender, City will still need to go into the market for a marquee signing at the back.
Just as refusing to pay over the odds for Jorginho in 2018 only made central midfield more of a transfer priority the following year, so the same stands for Harry Maguire in 2019 and this summer.
But Laporte is one centre-back definitely part of the plans, Garcia looks to be a second given his performances and Fernandinho will make three should his contract be renewed - as expected. John Stones could also make a fourth, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis - another youngster embellishing that pack.
Add in a centre-back that can come straight into the starting XI on a regular basis and City’s biggest weakness from this season should be eradicated for their next title pursuit.