While the final result of the El Classico in Dallas was definitely in favor of FC Barcelona, not everything was good for the Catalans in this match. For instance, two of their players, Ilkay Gundogan and Andreas Christensen had to leave the match because of discomforts, which would have somewhat soured the taste of victory for Xavi.
However, these two players were not missed too much in the match itself. Eric Garcia did a good job after coming on for Christensen and forming a partnership with Jules Kounde.
Eric Garcia has been tipped for a move away from Barcelona in recent months, but speaking to the media, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, the player assured: “I will continue to fight for a spot this season; I don’t contemplate leaving.”
He further commented that: “The coach shows me his trust, and what I try to do is seize the opportunities, like today. Whether I play the entire match or just ten minutes, I try to make the most of it.”
A victory against Real Madrid is always a big event at Barcelona, even if it is in a friendly. Regarding this El Classico, the player commented:
“After the match against Arsenal, which left a bitter taste. It was a friendly, but in our minds, we didn’t treat it as such. There were moments of very good football, which is what characterizes us.”
The player has not been a part of Xavi’s preferred lineup lately, and there was doubt whether the 22-year-old Spaniard would be able to keep up with the dynamic Brazilian duo of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes.
However, the center-back was up to the task and did a satisfactory job. Regarding his performance, Garcia himself commented:
“I played the game I had to play. They have very dangerous players up front. They have changed their style of play and have more players attacking, so it’s crucial to maintain a clean sheet because, with the quality we have up front, we know we’ll score a goal.”
Lastly, he also commended the team spirit shown by his colleagues, as he remarked: “The solidarity we’ve had, from the forwards to Marc (Ter Stegen), we’ve all been together.”
It is not clear whether Garcia would be with the squad during the next season, but this appearance in El Classico should be an encouraging sign for both Xavi and Garcia himself. Still, the backline is too congested and the club may be looking for suitors for the defender this summer.
