"To put things in perspective, the 25-year-old is the only Barcelona player to have featured in every single match so far. That's 28 appearances out of 28, with 27 of those coming as a starter. Not even a seemingly low-risk fixture away against CD Guadalajara, against a side two divisions below Barcelona, earned him a rest. On that occasion, the match looked perfectly suited for heavy rotation, yet Eric was still on the pitch."
"What makes this run even more remarkable is the fact that Eric has not been confined to one role. He has often been used as a central midfielder, shifted back into central defence when needed, and even filled in at right-back. This tactical flexibility has made him invaluable to Flick, but it has also turned him into a victim of his own reliability."
"This is exactly why the Racing Santander match matters so much. If Eric is to remain a key piece for the rest of the campaign, then this is the moment to stop, breathe, and rotate. Flick needs him fit, sharp, and mentally fresh when the decisive stages of the season arrive. Leaving him on the bench in Santander would not be a sign of weakness, but of smart management."
Barcelona face Racing Santander in the Copa del Rey round of 16, offering an ideal rotation opportunity. Managing minutes has become a necessity with a long, demanding second half of the season ahead. Eric Garcia has appeared in every match so far (28/28), often starting and playing multiple roles including central midfield, central defence and right-back. He returned to action wearing a protective mask three days after fracturing his nose. Resting Garcia in Santander would preserve his fitness, sharpness and mental freshness for decisive stages. Selecting the bench for him would represent smart squad management rather than weakness.
Read at Barca Universal
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