Barça defender Eric Garcia: I see Guardiola and Luis Enrique in Xavi

SPORT EXCLUSIVE

Barça defender Eric Garcia: I see Guardiola and Luis Enrique in Xavi

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The centre-back has spoken to SPORT about the new coach at Camp Nou

Eric Garcia watched Xavi Hernandez in Barcelona's first team when he was still a kid dreaming of succeeding at Camp Nou.

Xavi will now be Garcia's coach at Barça and the centre-back has told SPORT in an exclusive interview that "sharing the dressing room with (Sergio) Busquets and having Xavi as coach is very special for me, I never would have imagined it."

Garcia says that "I see things of Pep (Guardiola) and Luis Enrique in Xavi." He worked with Guardiola at Manchester City and with Lucho with the Spanish national team. It's a 'mix' that could bring a lot of success for Barça.

Continuing, Garcia says Xavi is "the right person" to take over at this difficult moment and it's not in vain that "he's a club legend and as a coach he's at a very high level. His mentality captivated the players and his character is very important."

On the rules imposed by Xavi, coming from similar demands under Guardiola, Eric feels they're necessary: "For me, they're normal, I had them at City. You always need a little discipline."

As for Ronald Koeman, he said: "For me, personally. Ronald helped me a lot and I only have words of appreciation for him."

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