Joan Garcia He is the prominent name on the Spanish team’s list for the friendlies this March break. The FC Barcelona goalkeeper was the big news in the call announced by Luis de la Fuente last Friday and, as he confesses to TVE, the dream of playing in a World Cup next summer looks closer now.
Joan García, on RTVE: “I come here to give everything and the one who decides is the coach”
“Being called up in a national team week, in a World Cup year, makes you have those hopes. Maybe so, but I think I have to continue working the sametrying to improve and then, if in the summer I receive the call, I will be delighted and very excited,” acknowledges the Catalan goalkeeper.
Chance has it that one of Spain’s two friendlies in this break, the second against Egypt on the 31st, is in the RCDE Stadium, the field of his former team, Espanyol.
“In the end it is a coincidence that it happened that in my first call-up we played at Espanyol’s field. But hey, Nor is it more important than playing in Barcelona. The last game is better because you avoid a return trip, back home. But apart from that, I don’t give it too much importance either,” Joan acknowledges.
The 24-year-old player from Sallent (Barcelona) had a knee injury that almost frustrated his dream of making his debut with the Reds, but a call from the coach calmed him down, as he details: “It was right after the knee operation. He called me above all to see how I was doing, to encourage me.. And the truth is that it was a nice gesture. The truth is that in those moments it is not something you think about, but you are focused on recovering and being well again.”
Once he was included on the list, they spoke again: “He told me that he was very happy that I was here and, above all, I really enjoyed these days, the first time is always remembered.“. And he adds the process of how he found out: “He caught me training in the club’s gym and a physio was the one who came and approached me and told me that he was called up.”
For this call, Joan completes a roster of four goalkeepers, something he sees as “positive.” “In the end, the more the coach sees, the better, best decision you can make for the World Cup. There is a very good group of footballers and goalkeepers in this case. “What I have to do is focus on giving my best, on contributing everything I can and that’s it.”
