Moving between rivals like Espanyol and Barcelona proved challenging, but Joan Garcia now enjoys the stability of being the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper for the FC Barcelona side. Speaking to 'MARCA', the shot-stopper reviewed his initial months and offered his perspective on the team's prospects for a crucial final phase of the season, aiming to add more trophies as a Blaugrana after their recent Spanish Super Cup triumph.

"FC Barcelona is a team that really suits me," he declared. "It's a young dressing room, eager to achieve great things. If we work diligently, we'll enjoy many successful seasons. That's precisely what a player desires: a promising future and a significant project spanning years. In that regard, Barca was ideal. When you join a club of this stature, with such quality players, you always encounter competition. I arrived with immense motivation to work, to showcase my abilities, and with a strong desire to earn a starting spot."

Addressing the tough defeat against Atletico Madrid, Garcia admitted: "It's difficult. When you suffer a loss, especially a painful one, sleeping becomes a struggle, I won't lie. Fortunately or unfortunately, we play every three days, so we must quickly move on and not dwell too much on the past. It's challenging, but you can't let it consume you."

He steered clear of controversy regarding refereeing decisions: "That's not something for me to evaluate. Lately, some questionable decisions haven't gone our way, but as players, we shouldn't waste time on it. It's expending energy on matters beyond our control. We must stick to our approach and strive to perform even better. Referees can make mistakes because incidents unfold rapidly. That's what VAR is for. Sometimes there's uncertainty about when they intervene and when they don't. We simply need to keep improving, growing, and evolving."

Garcia acknowledged Barcelona's dip in form during recent matches: "We have so much to improve; things aren't going our way. It comes down to details: knowing what to do at every moment, understanding what's asked of us players, and executing it on the pitch. We possess a very strong game plan, but if a player either fails to do what's required or oversteps their role, it can negatively impact the match or the system. We must analyse it thoroughly and clearly identify areas for improvement."

Asked if Barca are favourites in their remaining three competitions, he added: "It's not about whether I believe we are favourites or not. I do think we have the potential to be, but we must prove it on the pitch. When you play in the Champions League, you have to elevate your performance. We need to step up to, I don't know if be favourites, but certainly to have a better chance of winning it."

Garcia knows the Spain national team option is on the table, but he isn't obsessing over it: "It's not something I dwell on. I simply need to keep working and improving daily, continue performing at the highest level, even better than I am now. So, if I maintain my humble approach and give my all in every match, good news will surely follow. I'm pleased with my performance, but I'm very demanding and always identify areas where I can improve."

"The World Cup is a dream because it's the pinnacle a player can aspire to at national team level or in football generally. Representing your country in a World Cup is the ultimate achievement. It's an ambition that exists, and I believe there are genuine possibilities to fight for a place. An obsession? No, if it were, it certainly wouldn't go well. I need to keep working, focusing on myself while doing what's best for the team," he reiterated.

A goalkeeper without specific role models: "I've always said it: I've never had a specific goalkeeper as a reference point. Not even as a child. I've always loved watching football – I used to do it more often, but now I don't have as much time. Naturally, I paid close attention to goalkeepers, but I observed them all. You can pick up things to improve, although I admittedly focused more on those whose playing style and approach resembled mine. However, I've never had one clear role model to specifically emulate."

Joan García

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