Hansi Flick says 24-year-old Barcelona star ‘could become captain’ | OneFootball

FC Barcelona brace themselves for an away trip to La Cartuja as they look to beat Real Betis and continue their winning run in La Liga. A victory in Seville today would make it five straight league wins for Hansi Flick.

The Catalan club is coming off an excellent 3–1 win over Atletico Madrid in midweek. It was a performance close to Barcelona’s best from last season, and Flick will be keen to build on it.

Speaking in the pre-match press conference, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo, Flick was asked about Eric Garcia’s contract renewal. He said:

“The level he’s performing at is very good. He knows the club very well; he deserved a new contract.”

Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

The German manager then tipped him for future Barcelona captaincy. He continued:

“He’s an important player in the dressing room; he could become a captain. He lives for the club; he loves it. Since the beginning of last season, I could see his potential. At first, he had a few injuries, but he’s a professional.”

Flick went on to further praise his quality and contribution to the team:

“He focuses on playing football. If you want to be a leader, it’s important to be professional, to have discipline, to care about the other players… He does that. He gives everything for the team, whether he plays as a right-back, left-back, centre-back, midfielder, or even if he’s on the bench. I’m really happy for him. As I said, he deserved a new contract. It’s good news for the club, for him, for everyone.”

Eric’s transformation under Hansi Flick has been remarkable. He has improved markedly as a player and, this season, has become one of the first names on the team sheet for the German manager.

It remains to be seen whether he starts against Betis and, more pertinently, where he does. Central defence or right-back are the most likely options. Let us wait and see how it plays out.