Guardiola showers praise on Eric Garcia after starring on debutÂ
Manchester City progressed to the semifinals of the Carabao Cup with a penalty shootout victory over Leicester City on Tuesday night. Arijanet Muric was the hero of the night as the young goalkeeper starred in the shootout to keep out Leicester’s penalty kicks.
However, there was yet another youngster who caught the eye. Former Barcelona youth product Eric Garcia made his professional debut for the Citizens and put in a solid shift at the heart of the defence alongside Nicolas Otamendi.
And manager Pep Guardiola showered praises on the youngster after an impressive debut.
“He was incredible. He has a lot – a lot – of personality,” he told a post-match news conference.
“In the pre-season, in the United States, he was incredible. He commanded all the [defensive] line. He played against Liverpool and Bayern Munich, he was incredible.
“He had a tough injury and for two months he could not play with us.
“He is a guy who has a lot of sense of the position. He is so smart; he is not the strongest in the air with the headers, he is not the fastest one, but few times do the opposition win one position where he is.
“He is able to guide the line and has a lot of personality to play – good vision, good passing.”
Guardiola added: “I am very pleased for him. He did not make one mistake and with the ball, he played with huge personality.
“It’s one thing to be in a friendly game in pre-season and another to be in a knockout game. I am so delighted.”
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