The signing of John Garcia (24 years old) can already be considered among the best that the FC Barcelona during recent times. It only took a few months. The stellar performance in Villarrealone more, allowed the Barça seal the winter championship. Off the field of play, Joan He is just as he shows himself on the field: a calm, calm boy. Since the change of club, his day-to-day life has not changed much.
For a change, he hasn’t even changed his hairdresser. Of course, he decided to move from the center of Barcelona to a residence near the Sports City. Since he defended the Barça colors, his media exposure has multiplied. The group of Catalan players, in addition to Pedro y Ferran Torreswelcomed him after his landing in the Barça. Dani Olmowith whom he shares an agency, helped him settle into the club. The Egarense and Pedro They visited him in the hospital after the meniscus operation he underwent in October.
The private life of Joan contrasts with the extravagances of many footballers. It is much more mountain than beach and one of the excursions he took shortly before signing for the Barça went to Montserrat. When he has a few days off, he escapes to the mountains. The goalkeeper is from living at home, with his partner. And despite the external pollution, both he and his girlfriend maintain friendships with the club’s locker room. Espanyol and their environments.
No superstitions
Unlike many goalkeepers, Joan It has no notable superstitions. There are those who take care how they leave the bottles next to the goal, the foot with which they enter the field or the sticks they touch or kiss before starting the game. Of the little peculiarity that they remember of Joan those who know him are his shin guards. In an era in which protections tend to become smaller and smaller to bother the footballer as little as possible, when he played for Espanyol there were times when he chose to put on two pieces of cardboard that, outside the average, looked like shin guards.
A Joan It was not difficult for him to adapt to the training and match preparation system of the Barcelona. It didn’t seem too different to him. Espanyol. The speed and agility he has despite his size was impressive. Helped by video analysis and instructions from ‘Because‘, he quickly understood that he would have to live outside the goal so that the defensive line could be planted far from his area.
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Among the best figures in Europe
“The adaptation has been very quick. What has surprised me the most has been the interpretation and execution with the footwork, because it has been very good,” he comments. Adri Caballerowho was one of his goalkeeping coaches during his time at the Espanyol. “At the goal level, I am not surprised by what we are seeing because it has always been decisive. Barça He has gained a plus in the aerial game, in situations where he had previously suffered. It’s very complete,” Caballero analyzes.
The best figures in Europe
The data reflects the domain of Joan under sticks He is already the eleventh goalkeeper in the five major European leagues who has saved the most goals. Between expected goals and those conceded, he accumulates +3.4. Two aspects must be taken into account to value your registration. First of all, normally the goalkeepers who lead this table are those from more offensive than purposeful teams because they receive more shots. In the top 5 the goals of Angers, Lazio, Oviedo, Rome or Lille. Secondly, Joan has only played 12 games, so his tendency would place him in a higher place if he had played more games. On the other hand, it is among the best in terms of percentage of stops (80.6%, five points more than Courtois) and in matches with a clean sheet (50%). Furthermore, he is the goalkeeper who performs the most defensive actions outside his area (4.67).
After a great start to the season, with performances like that of Vallecas, Joan He was injured in the match against Oviedo. He was out for nearly two months, which prevented him from being selectable for the October and November breaks. Being Luis de la Fuente a coach who maintains and protects his block, the hard core of the Spanish team, Joan knows that it is very difficult to go to World. Hansi Flick He didn’t want to get wet when they asked him about the topic after the victory in Villarreal. “It’s not my business,” replied the coach, who had previously praised his goalkeeper.
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“He is the best goalkeeper in the world despite being too young to defend the goal of the Barça. As the years go by, you will gain weight,” he says. Caballero. Another person who knows you well and sees Joan still far from reaching the ceiling with room for improvement.
