Eric Garcia: Barcelona’s Champions League ambition comes first

Eric Garcia says winning the Champions League is Barcelona’s main objective this season, while warning that Real Madrid will provide one of their toughest challenges.

Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena SER, the Barcelona defender reflected on his development under manager Hansi Flick and how his role at the club has changed.

“In Flick’s first year, I did not play much, but he always gave me a lot of confidence,” Garcia said. “The day I scored against Benfica in the Champions League, everything changed.”

Garcia has since become increasingly versatile, featuring in several positions. He admitted he had never expected to play in so many different roles.

“I never imagined I would play in all these positions,” he said. “Flick showed me that it was possible, and it happened.”

Asked whether he would ever ask to play as a striker, Garcia said he would like to try it one day. However, he explained that moving from centre-back to right-back was more straightforward than operating in midfield.

“Moving from centre-back to full-back is quite similar,” he said. “Playing in midfield is more complicated because you see the game from behind. The most important thing is commitment and the desire to help the team.”

Garcia is also among Barcelona’s captains this season, an honour he described as particularly significant after progressing through the club’s academy.

“It is a great honour. I have been in the youth teams since I was young,” he said. “Leadership comes naturally to me; I try to help my team-mates. Being chosen as a captain is a great honour.”

He revealed that the players select their preferred captains by writing names on pieces of paper. “Jokes are not allowed because Carlos Naval reads them,” Garcia said, adding that Wojciech Szczesny would be entitled to make one if anyone was.

The Champions League remains Barcelona’s central target after they came close to reaching the final in each of the past two seasons.

“The Champions League is everyone’s objective,” Garcia said. “We were just one step away from qualifying in the past two years. We have a very complete squad with strong competition for places, which I think is important. But we must not forget that winning the league must also be a goal.”

He said standards under Flick had risen after changes to the team’s internal processes and gym work.

“We have changed some things in our internal operations and the way we work in the gym,” Garcia said. “The quality of the training sessions is impressive. If we continue like this, we are on the right path.”

Discussing his role at right-back behind Lamine Yamal, Garcia said: “When Lamine Yamal is with you, give him the ball, try not to get in his way and create a two-on-one situation so he can face the opponent.”

Garcia also identified Real Madrid as a major threat. “They are very dangerous in attack; playing against them is always exciting, but with Mourinho in charge, it becomes even more exciting,” he said.

The defender is currently wearing a protective mask after suffering his second broken nose in a year and expects to use it for two months.

“I have got used to it, but I would prefer to play without it,” he said.

Garcia added that he had spoken that day to former team-mate Ferran Torres, now at Paris Saint-Germain and still a close friend. Barcelona face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in Paris on 20 October.

On the Ballon d’Or, Garcia said all Barcelona players deserved to be on the podium, but added: “Lamine Yamal is the most deserving winner.” He also criticised the absence of Pedri and Raphinha, saying it was “incredible” that they had not been included.