Joan García goes back to Espanyol: Barça’s ‘science fiction’ keeper saves the day | Barcelona

“I hope folks don’t get indignant however he’s my pal.” There wasn’t lengthy till the Barcelona derby and Jofre Carreras had briefly deserted the warm-up to speak to the TV. There on the touchline, discuss inevitably turned to his former roommate, housemate and teammate Joan García, now in objective for his or her best rivals. Carreras’s reply was nearly audible over all of the noise after which he was off once more: he had one thing else to do earlier than it began, accepting a shirt marking his one hundredth sport for Espanyol. Behind them as membership legend Rafa Marañón offered it, the staff captains lined up for a photograph of their very own with the primary Catalan to referee this fixture in 80 years and, approach off to the overlooked of shot, García clapped. Like every part else he did, besides truly play, he did so discreetly.

Joan and Jofre, each 24, have recognized one another “for so long as I can bear in mind”, in Carreras’s phrases. Over 4 years, they shared a room at Espanyol’s residency on Carretera de Mataró in Sant Adrià del Besòs after which they shared an condo. When García collected his award as Espanyol’s finest participant in 2023-24, and was handed a provide of sausages, Carreras additionally acquired an award – two completely different supporters’ golf equipment rewarding two completely different winners on the identical day. When García began being seen past Barcelona, Carreras declared his pal the world’s finest. And when the summer season warmth obtained a bit a lot – and, boy, did it – García took refuge at Carreras’s. Now although they had been opponents. And that, Carreras stated, was “a bit unusual”.

It was additionally, it turned out, decisive: the distinction in a derby that turned much more about García than it was at all times going to be. What Carreras noticed then, others noticed on Saturday evening when an astonishing efficiency from the goalkeeper he grew up with led Barcelona to a 2-0 victory, in some way unmoved amid all of the mayhem. “In the long run, that’s soccer,” Carreras had stated, and ultimately it was.

Born in Sallent, 70km from Barcelona, García arrived at Espanyol’s residency shortly after his fifteenth birthday. Tall and daring, typically a little bit too daring, there was a contact of Casillas in his reflexes however with the physique and presence to dominate. Though he was as quick a learner as he was within the sprints the place he left different keepers behind, it wasn’t at all times straightforward. There have been two meniscus accidents. He had good goalkeepers forward of him and early, remoted alternatives didn’t go effectively. His debuts, in 2021 within the cup and 2022 within the league, weren’t the sort you dream of. And but, he would later say, it was most likely higher that approach, a worth in having errors to deal with and studying to dwell with them. Studying persistence too.

When Manolo González took over, the most effective factor that occurred to Espanyol in years was the most effective factor that might have occurred to García too. That season in segunda he hadn’t performed till March 2024; he performed each sport thereafter. Espanyol received promotion and of their first season again he was a revelation, salvation celebrated with the Espanyol badge dropped at his lips.

At which level, enter Barcelona. García had been at Espanyol a decade and his household had been members: he knew leaving was one factor, pure sufficient, however that leaving for them was one thing else completely, unforgivable. Hypothesis grew, the strain too. “He feels Espanyol and I don’t assume he’ll go there,” González stated. “I’m not saying I’d reduce off my hand if he did, however nearly.” But in mid-June García turned the primary participant to cross the Diagonal since Igor Korneev 31 years in the past, though lately it’s not a lot crossing the Diagonal as heading up it, past town alongside the B20 and off at exit 16A in the direction of Tarragona. Barcelona paid the buyout clause, nothing Espanyol may do. “I’ve to say goodbye to my residence since I used to be 15,” García stated, insisting that he would at all times “respect what I go away behind”, happy with leaving Espanyol in primera. “I do know it received’t be straightforward for everybody to know,” he stated, and he was proper.

“Everybody chooses their path, what’s finest for them,” Carreras stated throughout Saturday’s warm-up and the cash (€25m plus taxes) allowed Espanyol to resume Javi Puado’s contract, and hold Urko and Roberto, who had been so very important in survival final season. Ty Dolan arrived too, and García’s substitute Marko Dmitrovic. Espanyol got here into the derby in fifth having received 5 in succession. Which was one purpose why Saturday’s assembly felt so massive, a correct contest ultimately after two titles received and no video games misplaced in 16 years at Espanyol, however the purpose was García. The whole lot constructed round his return, the hostility supposedly awaiting him. “From like to hate, there’s usually a single step,” El Mundo wrote. “Greater than a derby,” Sport known as it, not precisely imaginatively. This, stated Marca’s cowl, was “a derby on fireplace”.

Espanyol had put up nets to make sure that any missiles didn’t attain their former participant, and known as for calm. “Everyone seems to be ready for us to screw it up,” González lamented, so don’t allow them to. He additionally stated that he remembered the pig’s head thrown at Luís Figo, so perhaps maintain off on the teachings in morality. “We’re not going to be coming with bunches of roses,” Espanyol’s coach stated. “That’s regular; that’s rivalry.” As a substitute, Barcelona awoke with Espanyol posters up at bus stops and metro stations: Blue and white Barcelona, Anti-cule zone, the pleasure of Barcelona, Fucking Bar$a. They got here with faux greenback payments, “Judas” García printed on them. They got here with banners: one confirmed a beheading, most had been emblazoned with rats. They carried cuddly rodents. They whistled García’s each transfer and actually known as for his head.

However García’s head is just not for turning. Nevertheless protected his palms and fast his toes, that is likely to be the most effective a part of him. As a substitute, he appeared to inhabit some place above the noise, the stress. “He’s a really calm man; he ready like at all times, very meticulous. He has a lot confidence,” Jules Koundé stated. García hadn’t stated a phrase all week and didn’t now, but he stated all of it. When Barcelona scored, Dani Olmo hitting a beautiful shot on 86 minutes and Robert Lewandowski including a late second, he didn’t smile, didn’t react, however he had received.

The objectives had been fantastically arrange by Fermin López however with out García, Barcelona wouldn’t have gotten that far. A belting derby – the phrase “thanks” appeared 56 occasions in a single 515-word report – was dominated by Espanyol, González happy with his staff and his followers and unable to elucidate how they’d misplaced. Apart from, effectively, him. “Sorry, I’m not speaking about Joan García,” he stated, uninterested in having his phrases twisted. “What I consider Joan I’ve stated right here 50 occasions earlier than.” What he had stated was that simply as Barcelona had Messi so Espanyol had García. And on Saturday evening, for a lot of this season, that didn’t appear so far-fetched. His signing looks like a gamechanger, with 77% of photographs stopped. Right here, it was 100%. Seven from seven, 5 of them excellent, on an evening that was barely plausible.

“Mom of God almighty, what a goalkeeper!” Lamine Yamal posted. “Spectacular,” Fermin known as him. “He’s wonderful,” Olmo stated. He had come “dressed as Superman” El Mundo Deportivo claimed, pants on the surface and every part. “Tremendous Joan,” stated Sport’s cowl. He was “from science fiction”, El Periódico claimed. Poor Roberto may solely look misplaced. Towards a standard keeper, he may need had a hat-trick. That they had been taking part in 20 minutes when he was clear by means of the primary time, García stopping him. When the striker escaped after an hour, he did it once more, twisting and launching at his toes. There was a flash on the close to put up, a swoop in the direction of the far put up. One other save led to an unbelievable cease that doesn’t even depend as his however may simply be the most effective. Seeing he couldn’t attain the rebound, García shoved Gerard Martín within the again, sending his personal central defender flying in to dam.

However it was one from a Pere Milla header, shifting within the air, throwing his arms out and in some way pushing over from a yard, that can linger longest, pretty much as good as any cease you’ll see. “That save’s one of the vital necessary and wonderful this season,” Koundé stated; much more eloquent had been the reactions of three opponents. Dolan was already celebrating; Carlos Romero stood in disbelief, waggling his fingers like he had trapped them in a drawer; Milla shook his head, approached García and gave him a delicate fist bump. Respect, you bastard. Seen that someplace earlier than.

On the full-time whistle, sheet in some way stored clear, Dmitrovic – who made an astonishing save of his personal – embraced him. “He’s an awesome child,” the brand new Espanyol goalkeeper stated. “He’s having an awesome season, even higher than final 12 months, which I didn’t know was doable. One other at this stage and he’ll be the most effective on the planet. I want him all of the luck on the planet, besides once we meet once more.”

As the 2 goalkeepers pulled aside and García headed in the direction of the tunnel the place his former flatmate waited, Hansi Flick grabbed him in a bear hug. “We didn’t deserve this win, I’ll be trustworthy,” Barcelona’s coach stated. “I’ve to say thanks to Joan García. His physique language, his confidence, it’s implausible, he offers us optimistic vitality. I do know he appreciates lots and doesn’t overlook every part that occurred right here: Manolo trusted him. He’s taking part in for us now and it’s unbelievable.”