With all their wealth, breaking into the first team at Manchester City represents a daunting task for the youngsters in their Elite development squad. Wonderkid Jadon Sancho left to join Borussia Dortmund in 2017, with the likes of Leroy Sané and Raheem Sterling standing between him and playing opportunities at the Etihad. Meanwhile, Phil Foden continues to be drip-fed minutes with the senior side, despite being recognised as one of the most gifted teenagers in the game.
Another talent hoping to overcome the odds by securing his place in Pep Guardiolas plans is central defender Eric García. Seen by many as a long term replacement for Sky Blues legend Vincent Kompany, García has been earning rave reviews from his manager in recent months. This analysis will attempt to shine a light on the attributes that mark him out as one of the most promising defenders in European football.
Story so far
Having joined Barcelona in 2008, Eric García spent nine years at La Masia before moving to Manchester City at the age of 16. The youngster settled quickly in the North-West of England, captaining the under 18s, as well as impressing for the under 19s in their UEFA Youth League campaign.
The young Citizens were knocked out of the competition by Garcías old teammates from Barca in the semi-finals. However, his reputation was continuing to grow, with Pep Guardiola selecting him in the first team squad for their pre-season tour of the USA.
A couple of months later, Pep recalled the rookies performances in the states:
In pre-season he was incredible, commanding the line against Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
At the beginning of this season, García had to fight his way through a spell on the sidelines, before returning to action in November. A month later, he was thrown into League Cup action against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. He handled the occasion well and went on to start both legs of their semi-final with Burton Albion.
Ball-playing defender
García is extremely competent in possession. His passing range and selection are excellent, with an impressive ability to break the opponents defensive lines with quick and accurate passes.
His close control is also apparent, helping him to carry the play forward before releasing possession to a teammate on the last line of the attack. This multi-dimensional aspect to his game allows him to find ways to progress against the different conditions set by the opposition.
Not only does García have the technical assets to excel in possession, he also has the intelligence. He consistently makes good use of the ball in his attempts to shift the opponents and create gaps to play through. He also understands how to create better opportunities for his teammates by drawing pressure from opposing players and creating space behind them in the process.
In the sequence shown below, García recognises the opportunity to carry the ball further into midfield. In this situation, some defenders might look to play a diagonal cross-field ball to the winger on the far side. However, Burton Albions left-back and left-midfielder have good access to the wide man.
With this in mind, a lofted pass between them would have a fair chance of being cut out, making it a weak option for García. Instead of playing the early out-ball, he dribbles into the centre, drawing pressure from the opponents and altering the positional layout.
The left-back on the far side has tucked in somewhat, with three Burton midfielders moving to close down the immediate threat of the dribbler. The winger on the far side now has more space to receive, and the pass distance has been reduced, giving the opponents less chance to intercept. García makes an accurate pass out to the winger having drawn the opposition into the centre.
While many of his passes resemble the one above in that they involve feeding the wide players in space, García also has the capacity to penetrate defensive lines centrally. The image below shows him cutting through Burtons staggered midfield organisation with an incisive pass to the feet of withdrawn striker Gabriel Jesus.
Overall, Garcías range of passing and ability to cut through the opponents lines are both of an exceptional level. Pep has commented on this area of his game in recent months, noting his ability to identify passing lanes after the game against Leicester City.
He has good vision, a good Keep Reading TFA With A Free 7 Day Trial
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