On Sunday, Joan García visited the Tordira training camp and gave an exclusive interview to Diario Sport, where he discussed his thoughts on winning the World Cup and addressed transfer rumors surrounding Alvarez and Ferran Torres.
How have you been lately? First of all, congratulations on becoming the World Cup champion!
I think it's great, haha.
It sounds simple, but it all happened so fast, didn't it?
It happened very quickly, but I have had enough time to process this honor, enjoy it, and celebrate. Now my mind is mainly on the upcoming new season.
Your life has undergone tremendous changes in the past two years. It's incredible how much psychological counseling you've needed to process all of this.
Yes, this period of time has completely changed my life, but I am very proud of it. All my experiences along the way have been positive, and I am genuinely happy to have come this far.
You didn't play a single minute during the entire World Cup. Honestly, how did you adjust your mindset?
The adjustment was excellent; it was a reasonable arrangement. If I were to replace a starter, it would be a mistake for both me and the team. I genuinely feel comfortable accepting the substitute role, especially considering the team's winning streak and ultimately the World Cup victory. You can imagine how wonderful that feeling was; everything was perfect.
Really? You didn't play at all, weren't a main character on the field, yet you completely consider the World Cup your own honor?
I want to say that substitute players are just as much of a champion as starters. It felt like we were on the field the whole time. Our whole team spent nearly fifty days together, and we all shouldered the pressure together. To be honest, sitting on the bench was even more agonizing than playing. I was also a participant in this honor; I am a true champion.
Before the World Cup started, there was a lot of controversy surrounding the starting goalkeeper selection. Many fans supported you, after all, you were the best goalkeeper in La Liga last season...
These kinds of public debates will never disappear, and it's normal for there to be various opinions from the outside world. But everyone in the team takes it in stride, and there have never been any internal conflicts.
Many Barcelona fans joked that if Barcelona wins the Champions League, they hope you'll get Flick tattooed on your body like Cucurella got De la Fuente.
Haha, I know everyone's joking, but I don't have any plans to do that right now. I don't have any tattoos and I have no plans to get any. Of course, if we do win our sixth Champions League title, we'll have to think of a different way to celebrate.
The Kucurella incident did indeed attract a lot of attention.
Yes, he's amazing.
Were you all surprised when you learned during the World Cup that he had transferred to arch-rivals Real Madrid?
It's not unexpected; everyone makes the choice that's best for their career and future development. To be honest, I think this transfer is a great step for him. People joke about it with him privately, but we're genuinely happy for Mark (Cucureria).
I know it's not convenient for you to discuss the transfer negotiations of Alvarez in detail, as this is not within your scope of work. But speaking of the player himself, you have played against him before, so how would you evaluate him?
I think Alvarez is extremely strong. As long as you love football and have watched his games, you will immediately see that he is exceptionally talented and has top-notch footwork.
It is widely believed that he is a good fit for the Barcelona system...
Assessing transfer signings is not my job. I personally have great trust in the club's sporting management and the head coach. I know that the two sides will communicate frequently, and I am confident that they will build the strongest lineup capable of challenging for all championships. As for questions like "whether they are willing to spend 150 million to sign Alvarez," fortunately, I don't need to think about or answer them.
Let's talk about Ferran Torres. He scored over 40 goals in two seasons, but his future remains uncertain.
Everyone's situation is different. Many fans express their opinions without knowing the inside story; only the player himself knows his true feelings, and we should respect that. We are all happy that he's staying with the team and hope he can continue wearing the Barcelona jersey next season.
Going back to yourself, where did you get this calm and collected attitude in the face of adversity?
I have a relatively calm personality, which I think is an advantage for a goalkeeper. I just need to do my job well and move forward steadily.
Last summer you were constantly embroiled in transfer rumors, but this summer has been much quieter.
Hopefully, every offseason will be like this, without having to worry about off-court rumors.
The new season is about to start in a few days. What are the team's goals for this season?
The direction is very clear: maintain our current level of performance, reclaim the La Liga title, and simultaneously strive for important trophies such as the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. The Champions League, of course, is our top priority. We must set winning the title as our goal, give it our all, and approach it with 100% effort.
But not to be overly obsessed?
Of course, being overly fixated on something will only have negative consequences. We should fight with high spirits and confidence, and understand that the Champions League is the most competitive tournament, nothing more.
Honestly, how many championship trophies are you truly satisfied with?
The minimum goal is to match last season's results, while also striving to win all other titles and sweeping all the championships if possible.
Real Madrid's signing of several strong reinforcements has caused concern among many Barcelona fans. What would you like to say to them?
I want to tell everyone that we just need to focus on ourselves. Our summer signings may not seem as numerous as Real Madrid's, but I'm very happy with the two new signings we've finalized. Gordon and Adyemi are exactly the players we've been missing, and they can bring crucial improvements to the team. I'm very happy they've joined Barcelona, and I believe they will help the team go even further.
Laporta was hospitalized due to a sudden heart rhythm disorder, but has now recovered and returned home. What would you like to say to him in front of the camera?
Yes, we heard that you were sick recently and wanted to send you our best wishes. I will definitely give you a big hug next time we meet. I hope you have someone to take good care of you and help you recover well.
