Accumulation of minutes is now taking a toll on Flick’s most trusted Barcelona star in recent weeks – Report | OneFootball

One of the biggest surprise stories of the season from an FC Barcelona perspective is Eric Garcia. Once considered dispensable by the club, he has developed into one of Hansi Flick’s most trusted defenders.

However, according to Mundo Deportivo, Eric Garcia’s heavy workload is finally beginning to show. Of Barcelona’s first 40 official matches of the 2025-26 season, the defender had featured in all 40 and started 39 of them, more than any other player in Hansi Flick’s squad.

The only time Flick initially left him out was away at Santander, but even then, Eric had to come on to help secure qualification against Racing. The first match he actually missed came in the Copa del Rey return leg against Atletico Madrid, and that was only because he was suspended after being sent off in the first leg.

The warning signs then appeared at San Mames. During the closing stages, Eric was seen stretching his calves and clearly struggling on the pitch. He was managing his efforts and even glancing towards the bench to see whether he could hold on or whether a substitution might be needed.

In the end, he made it through to the 95th minute, but the accumulation of minutes, 3,208 already at this stage of the season, and the complete lack of rotation now seem to be catching up with him in the form of physical discomfort.

He rested against Newcastle and Sevilla, but in the return leg against the English side, he lasted only 20 minutes before coming off. The substitution, made as a precaution, and Eric’s own intelligence in recognising his limit appear to have prevented the issue from developing into something more serious.

Eric has quietly become fundamental to this Barcelona side. He can do a job at full-back and has also been useful as a pivot, but this season he is making the biggest difference in his natural role: a centre-back whose qualities fit this Barca team perfectly.