For several years in the Dani Jarque sports city there have been outstanding reports about Joan García (Sallent, 2001). His physical condition (1.91 m tall) and his techniques made him progress successfully from the cadet team, where he joined Espanyol in 2016, to the first team. Eight years later, and after a long and far from easy process, García is Espanyol's starting goalkeeper for Manolo González. A step that in Perica sports management they understand is natural. Reports today indicate that he should be the owner of the goal for the next decade. That is if a sale, necessary to survive, does not get in the way. For now, he has a contract until 2028 and, in addition to promotion, the Olympic Games appear as the other objective of the season.
Does the locker room believe in promotion?
Of course. I see them very motivated. There are many teams in the fight. It's going to be long and until the last week or two we will have the possibility of everything. We have to have a very cool head and work hard every game. We have to think about ourselves and not about other people's results.
How has the change of coach affected the team?
The group has always been 100% with all the coaches and that with so much change is complicated. But we are very united. Trying to adapt quickly to this change.
He has been at Espanyol for eight years. Has the process to get to this moment been worth it?
Yes, definitely. He has been at the club for a long time but until this year he had not had continuity in the first team. It's not always your turn to play, especially being a goalkeeper, but the important thing is to be prepared.
Has it been too long for you not to play?
It's complicated, you spend moments of everything. Some in which you are more motivated and others less. But you never know when it's going to hit you.
Your debut was not what you dreamed of two seasons ago, how do you live with the critics?
At first the games didn't go as I would have liked, but that is also part of learning. I have always said it, if I had played a great game at the beginning I would not have learned half of what I learned. It caught me much younger and I gave a little more importance to criticism than I do now, but it has served me a lot. I have approached it in a good way. Without criticism I would not be the goalkeeper I am today.
Did you have a bad time?
At that moment it goes bad. Everyone wants to play the best games. But looking at it from the outside and with time, I think it has helped me more than it has hurt me.
The club has expanded the area of psychology, how important is this for a goalkeeper?
A lot and for many reasons. You can go a long time without playing and you have to be prepared every day, because it could happen to you. And you have to know how to deal with error. In a goalkeeper it is much more definitive. If you want to play at a high level for a long time you have to work on that aspect.
In the middle of this entire process he agreed to renew until 2028.
In recent years I haven't played much, but I trust the club and its people and my dream remains the same: to be a goalkeeper for Espanyol in the First Division. And I knew that this was something that could not be accomplished in the short term, which is why I renewed so many years.
In January did you have offers to leave?
I valued going out on loan to gain minutes. I spoke with the club, with my surroundings and we made a common decision. I knew that if I worked well the opportunity could come.
Do you feel more mature?
Years have passed since I debuted. I was very young and little by little you gain the maturity and confidence you need.
What does he stand out for as a goalkeeper?
I consider myself a brave goalkeeper. With my footwork I like to find passes and I have the confidence to do it. In balls into the area I have to continue working to be more confident. I feel very comfortable coming out with the ball from behind, but also with other styles.
What are the Olympic Games? for you?
Every athlete dreams of going to the Games. If they call me up I will enjoy it, but now I am focused on the promotion.
