Barcelona’s Eric Garcia backs Lamine Yamal for Ballon d’Or and keeps clear of Mourinho refereeing row

Eric Garcia declined to offer an opinion on the refereeing controversy involving Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, saying Barcelona’s players had been told to focus on their own performances.

Speaking to Sport while with the Spain squad, Garcia was asked about the refereeing debate in La Liga and issues involving Real Madrid.

“I prefer not to give my opinion on that,” he said.

“All referees in the world try to do their best and try not to make mistakes. In the end, as a player during a match, you also try to do your best and sometimes make mistakes. We are human, so mistakes are part of football.”

Garcia added that Barcelona manager Hansi Flick had repeatedly instructed the team not to become involved in discussions about officials.

“Our coach Hansi Flick always insists that we focus on ourselves and do not get drawn into the subject of referees,” he said. “As I said, they try to do their best, and sometimes mistakes happen, as they do all the time in life.”

Barcelona are six points ahead of Real Madrid, but Garcia warned that the situation could change quickly.

“We know that football and the league can change a lot in this situation,” he said. “We are in a good dynamic, but last year, when we lost the Clasico at the Bernabeu, the gap became seven points and it seemed as though everything was over.

“Now that we are six points ahead, we are still at the start of the season. We have to continue in the same way and then we will see what happens.”

Garcia also believes Barcelona have the quality to challenge strongly in Europe. He said the season remained at an early stage but that the squad was working well and had shown its strength.

“The Champions League will be difficult, but we certainly have a great desire to win it,” he said.

“With the squad, the players, the quality and the ambition, I think Barcelona will definitely be among the leading teams in the Champions League. We have become more mature, and the arrival of Rodri has helped us achieve balance.”

On the Ballon d’Or, Garcia said he would vote for Yamal and backed the Barcelona forward to win the award.

“I would vote for him, and for every Spanish player as well. I think any of them deserve it, but I believe Lamine Yamal should win it,” he said.

“There are many Spanish players who could win it, but personally I think Lamine should win. I am also happy that other team-mates are among the nominees, especially Cubarsi, because defenders are sometimes forgotten and I think he deserves it too.”

Garcia said he was ready to cover at centre-back if required following Andreas Christensen’s injury.

“I am ready for anything asked of me,” he said. “One of my strengths is my ability to adapt to different positions. Centre-back is naturally my position and where I have always played, so if I have to play there in a match, I certainly will.”

He rejected suggestions that Barcelona were vulnerable on the flanks, particularly on the left, and described Karim Adeyemi as “a rocket” when asked about racing him.