BARCELONA — The coach of Barcelona expressed gratitude to Joan García for his outstanding performance during a challenging return to Espanyol, which helped the LaLiga leaders secure a 2-0 victory at the RCDE Stadium on Saturday.
García, aged 24, made headlines last summer as the first player to leave Espanyol for city rivals Barça in over three decades, transferring for €25 million ($29 million).
This match represented García’s first chance to face his former team, during which he faced a barrage of hostile jeers from the crowd, with home fans derogatorily labeling him a rat and throwing banknotes featuring his face.
Despite the hostile environment, García delivered an exceptional performance, recording a season-best six saves, including a jaw-dropping stop on a header from Pere Milla. Late goals from substitutes Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski eventually secured an unlikely win for Barça.
“I must express my gratitude to Joan García for his unbelievable performance,” Flick remarked during the post-match press conference. “He is among the best goalkeepers in the world.”
Before joining Barça, García made 68 appearances for Espanyol, and Flick indicated that the treatment he endured on Saturday wouldn’t mar his memories of the club he joined at 15 years old in 2016.
“He was fantastic under the pressure of the whistles,” Flick noted. “I know he values his time at Espanyol and will carry those memories with him. [Espanyol coach] Manolo [González] instilled the confidence he needed to perform.”
“He will always remember this match, but now he plays for us. His performances have been remarkable throughout the season. Today, his clean sheet was pivotal.”
“It’s vital to have a top goalkeeper. Today’s match illustrated that importance. Just look at Real Madrid and their outstanding goalkeeper. Many elite teams rely on such talent. I’m thrilled that he’s with us and grateful we made the decision to sign him last summer.”
García’s remarkable performance allowed Barça to find the back of the net late in the game, with both of the goals coming in the final five minutes.
Fermín López set up both goals, starting with Olmo’s exquisite strike in the 86th minute, followed by Lewandowski sealing the win in the 90th minute.
Flick expressed satisfaction with the outcome but acknowledged there were areas of improvement regarding the overall gameplay.
“I’m delighted with the three points,” the German coach stated. “There are aspects we need to address, but in the end, I’m truly happy about this result.”
“Credit to Espanyol for their fantastic performance. The atmosphere in the stadium was electrifying; it was a thrilling derby, and I genuinely enjoyed it. We didn’t deserve to win, I must be honest.”
“Ultimately, the quality we introduced from the bench made the decisive difference. This illustrates the depth of talent we possess, but I’m not celebrating our first 80 minutes of play.”
“Espanyol displayed intensity and a solid dynamic, excelling in aerial duels. We faced considerable difficulties. Yet, we secured the two goals and the three points, sending a significant message to LaLiga. This is vital for us.”
With this victory, Barça extended their winning streak in LaLiga to nine matches, maintaining a seven-point lead over Real Madrid, who will face Real Betis on Sunday.
Espanyol, on the other hand, saw their five-game winning streak snapped but remain fifth in the standings, still in contention for a European slot next season.