Eric Garcia, Raphinha speak after Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna: ‘When things get a bit complicated, you pass the ball to Pedri’ | OneFootball

Hansi Flick’s Barcelona took home a 2-0 win over Osasuna on Saturday night after a long-fought battle that saw them wait deep into the second half for their opener.

The manager deployed a strong lineup against the visitors knowing well of their threat, but also made some interesting adjustments to his setup.

For starters, Raphinha saw a new role featuring as the number ten while Eric Garcia continued to start as the defensive midfielder in place of Frenkie de Jong who was again on the bench. 

Eric Garcia’s interview

Speaking to the media after the win, Eric Garcia opened up on what the result meant to the dressing room and how the game played out.

“Yes, a very important win.”

“In the end, we knew it would be a tough match, similar to the one we played in the Champions League against Eintracht, with an opponent that was very compact at the back and looking for counterattacks,” he added on the nature of the game.

Garcia admitted that the team were not at their best in terms of ball circulation and how that complicates matters against a low block.

“We lacked a bit of rhythm in circulating the ball, but in the end, with this heavy accumulation of matches, the most important thing was to secure the three points.”

“Yes, definitely. Against this type of team, if the ball isn’t fast, you try to exploit any moment when the opponent loses focus or opens up their spaces a little for the attack. It’s difficult, and we saw that, as they retreat a lot to the back and the spaces are very few,” he added.

The player was then asked about the cushion they now have on top of the table which is seven points ahead of Real Madrid’s game later today.

“Well, Atletico Madrid, but also the rest of our rivals in Madrid, and also Villarreal, and when you win the match and increase the gap, that is always important.”

“It gives you a calmer atmosphere at home, so yes, it is very important for us,” he added.

Garcia was then asked to comment on Hansi Flick’s ability to use players in various positions, especially concerning him and Raphinha.

“It’s clear that it gives the team an extra boost, creates greater competition, and that’s ultimately the most important thing, so that everyone stays fully prepared and no one slacks off.”

“This is beneficial for the coach, but as for us, we have to deliver the required performance,” he added.

Finally, the defender praised Pedri as the solution to all of Barcelona’s problems.

“Yes, absolutely. The truth is that when things get a bit complicated, you pass the ball to Pedri and he solves everything.”

The captain’s verdict

Raphinha scored a match-defining brace. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Brace-scorer Raphinha then opened up to the media about how the team always knew Osasuna would be a complicated opponent.

“We knew from the start that it would be a somewhat complicated match, a physically demanding one, against a team that knows how to defend well.”

“Our team had to show patience. We knew that scoring the first goal would be difficult, but patience was a key factor in breaking up the match’s congestion,” he added.

Speaking on how it was difficult to break down Osasuna’s defence which left the game’s result in doubt, the Brazilian international said,

“The goal could have come in the 80th or 90th minute, or even in the 1st minute, but we knew that scoring in the first minute would be extremely difficult.”

“Osasuna is a team that knows how to defend well, and I think we put on a very good match. The patience was enough to find the first goal,” he added.

Praising the opponents for their resilient defence, the Barcelona captain outlined the various routes the team looked to score from on the night.

“I knew they were a team that defends well and is physically strong, and given that we are tall players, I knew that one of the ways would be to look for a goal from outside the penalty area.”

“In the first half, we tried to find this solution, but some shots from outside the area we didn’t succeed in as required,” he added.

“And in the second half as well, we continued the attempt. I think we got the chance, and the match was a bit more open than it had been before, and we moved well until the goal came,” he concluded.

Finally, the player was asked about his situation and how he felt returning to a main role in the team.

“I think the situation is going very well. We need to focus on ourselves, and that’s the most important thing in the end. If we do our job as we should, we won’t have to worry about the others.”

“The more points we collect, the better we become. We need to keep progressing and harvest as many points as possible,” he added.

Finally, he spoke on the importance of a hard-fought win on the dressing room’s morale.

“These victories are very important because they give the team the confidence to keep harvesting points. I think we’re delivering better matches than before, and the more we keep winning, the better it is.”

Source: Barça One