Real Oviedo – Barcelona: Flick’s versatile fortress

25/09/2025 07:24:00 GoalGuru

Many believe that the unexpected departure of Inigo Martinez in the summer was a severe blow to coach Hansi Flick’s plans. However, every cloud has a silver lining; positive outcomes can arise from adverse situations.

In Barcelona’s defense, the exit of the Basque center-back opened the door for Eric Garcia to fully realize his potential. It can be said that the 24-year-old defender has gained a new status at Barcelona, as he not only faced fewer challenges but also naturally gained a significant advantage: being shaped by the football philosophy of La Masia.

"Eric Garcia is truly remarkable. He plays in multiple positions and excels in all of them. Having a player like Eric is a luxury," Flick stated. Besides center-back, he has also played as a defensive midfielder, right-back, and in the final minutes of the last two matches, he took on the role of left-back.

From being the 12th, 13th, or 14th option, he has now become a key player, one of the indispensable members for the German strategist. His five starts in La Liga prove this. Number 24 began as a right-back but has recently been playing in his natural position, center-back, delivering outstanding performances in the last three games.

Eric Garcia played the first two La Liga matches against Mallorca and Levante as a right-back while Flick rested Jules Kounde. Against Rayo Vallecano, Valencia, and Getafe, he played center-back, a role he held at Saint James' Park. However, in the match against Getafe, Flick deployed him as a left-back for the final minutes to allow Gerard Martin an early rest.

Eric Garcia’s "maturity" is helping Barcelona become more solid

Last season, the 60-year-old coach also positioned Eric as a stopper in highly contested matches, where he demonstrated qualities that pleased Flick, which is why he is also considered a substitute for the double pivot midfield role.

Alongside Pau Cubarsi, number 24 is the defender with the best passing ability from the backline; he has a keen instinct for reading opponents and reacts swiftly in defense. With confidence, he is capable of creating a distribution system far superior to Araujo and Christensen.

Eric Garcia’s performance against Getafe is considered the most spectacular so far this season. He completed 114 passes, 105 of which were successful, achieving nearly 94% accuracy. Among them, 23 passes were in the final third, with a similar accuracy rate. He won all three aerial duels, succeeded in two tackles, and recovered the ball nine times, committing only one foul.

"I try to give my best for the team in any position they ask me to play, and ultimately, the more we win, the better we perform," Eric Garcia humbly said. Despite competing with younger teammates like Pau Curbasi, Eric has matured enough to secure a solid place at Camp Nou.

Nhat Minh

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