Barcelona manager Hansi Flick confirms that the defender will not leave the club on deadline day
Manager of Barcelona Hansi Flick he confirmed that Eric Garcia he won't be going anywhere on the last day of the transfer window. The 23-year-old had been linked with a move away from the club, but Barcelona's injuries may have played a role in the Blaugrana's decision to keep him.
It was reported that Girona are willing to offer 15 million euros for him, and that Garcia was open to a move to the North of Catalonia, where he would be a key player. However, Barcelona were left without Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and now holding midfielder Marc Bernal through injury.
“Yes, I can,” Flick replied when asked if Garcia would continue at the club this season. He had also chosen it as one of the two Barcelona options to play in the midfield in place of the injured Marc Bernal. Even if it's not his favorite role.”
Flick: “I tell the players that they have to be intense from the beginning of the game, and don't wait 10 minutes to become intense. It's important to be confident and be at 100% from the moment the whistle blows, not 80%” .
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“As you say, his position is more natural as a central defender. But in our situation, it is important to have players who can play in different positions, and who can adapt. Players like Eric, or Rapha, who can play in different positions in attack”.
“I know Eric wants to play at center back, but the team counts, not the individual. He said, 'OK, if I can help the team,' and that's the best reaction.”
Flick also revealed that he has seen Fermin Lopez play in two primary roles this season, with plenty of competition for spots.
“I think that Fermin is an '8' or a '10'. He arrived later than the rest of his teammates and this is the reason why he did not play at the beginning. The season is very long and when he arrived he showed what he can do. It is true that he was not a starter, but he has the quality to start in the eleven.
Lopez finished the game against Rayo Vallecano as one of the two central midfielders alongside Bernal and then Dani Olmo, showing that he will be asked to play deeper than he did under Xavi Hernandez at times. Equally, Barcelona has many options in central defense, while Garcia will be the only real relief for Marc Casado from the sound of it.
