Barcelona will begin to defend its crown in the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup against Athletic in Jeddah. However, another match will be played in Saudi Arabia, probably invisible to local fans, but not to Luis de la Fuente, Spain coach, who was going to be present at the Alinma Stadium and finally stayed in Madrid due to a flu condition. The Barcelona goal will be defended by Joan García; that of Athletic, Unai Simón. The duel is symbolic: the Blaugrana begins to test the Basque’s status under the Red’s crossbar. “He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world,” Hansi Flick praised him after the Catalan derby. Joan García had given a true lesson in talent between the three sticks, essentially another in emotional temper in a match full of significance for the Barça goalkeeper, who moved from the RCDE Stadium to the Camp Nou last summer.
Flick’s words were not trivial. If Joan García has become one of the best in the world, why is he not included in De la Fuente’s calls? When Barcelona paid the 25 million euros of his clause, the Barça sports management was convinced that it would only be a matter of time for him to rise to the goal of La Roja. However, in none of the three calls did De la Fuente call Joan García. “We have five or six of the best goalkeepers in the world,” the coach defended last December in an interview in the newspaper As. “No one talks about Robert Sánchez or Leo Román either,” he added. And, when it seemed that he forgot to name the Barça player, he finished: “And of course Joan García… we have fantastic goalkeepers.”
If the name of Joan García was heard in the hallways of Las Rozas when he played for Espanyol, the buzz grew after his landing at Barcelona. A noise that reached Unai Simón. “It is normal to talk about Joan; last year he was the best goalkeeper in the League,” recalled the Athletic goalkeeper about Joan García’s season, key to maintaining Espanyol’s permanence in the First Division: 146 saves, eight clean sheets. “But,” he added, “we have experience in the national team, weight in the locker room and we have also achieved important things.” Unai Simón defended in words what the data already contained: 56 games in the senior team, starting goalkeeper in the Red champion of the Euro Cup and the Nations League.
His self-defense was not enough, nor was Luis de la Fuente’s praise. The duel for the crown of the best goalkeeper in Spain with Joan García is already established, and the echo reached Ernesto Valverde in the preview of the match against Barcelona in Jeddah. “I have not spoken with him,” said Txingurri about a possible conversation with Unai Simón; “There is no compelling reason to talk to him because Barça has a good goalkeeper. All teams have good goalkeepers. The fact that many saves are made does not have to influence.”
The face to face in Jeddah, in any case, will not change De la Fuente’s plans. At least, the short-term ones. “It is true that now we are betting on these three and we are very delighted with Unai [Simón]David [Raya] and Alex [Remiro]but we will see what happens between now and March or what will happen between now and June; God knows,” concluded the La Roja coach, who does not rule out traveling to Jeddah for the final in case his flu condition improves.
Although it is difficult for De la Fuente to do without the players he trusts, Joan García is also an old acquaintance of the coach. The Blaugrana has played for La Rojita: 10 games between the U-17 and U-21. He lacks, however, the jump to the absolute. “My goal is to continue improving in each game with Barça. Every player likes the national team. If he arrives, I will be very proud. But my goal is not to reach the World Cup,” the Barcelona goalkeeper said yesterday.
Once the debate with Ter Stegen is closed – no one in the Barcelona Sports City is wondering if the German can discuss his ownership -, Joan García clings to his performance at Barcelona to jump to Las Rozas. His data supports him – 33 saves, seven clean sheets – as does his ambition. “They are very fast plays. They require you to act quickly. It is a matter of intuition. There is no time to think. In these three I avoided the goal, so I am happy,” he commented on his performance in the Catalan derby. And he insisted: “I am a young goalkeeper and I have to improve. I try to do my best. It was a special match and I had a good performance, but I know I can improve more,” stressed the Barça goalkeeper, who is seeking his first title as a Barça player in Jeddah. “We are confident. There are some things to improve and we are working, but with the confidence of being able to win and keep a clean sheet.”
With Lamine in cotton wool (he trained on the sidelines due to a stomach virus), but with Joan García on fire, Barça measures its cyclothymic football, generally effective against Athletic. In Jeddah there is another duel: Simón against García.
