During a training camp in Spain, Eric Garcia was interviewed by Marca. In the third part of the interview (divided into three sections due to its length), he discussed his experience winning the World Cup.

You are still very young, but you have already experienced a lot. If anyone knows what you've been through, it must be Santi Denia, and now you're about to face him directly. Have you spoken to him?

Santi has always been a very important coach for me. From a young age, he trusted me completely and even promoted me to higher age categories.

I always say that I am very grateful for everything he taught me. He taught me a lot, and we have always stayed in touch because he is someone I deeply respect.

Do you know what he told us before the final? He said he sees you as a future coach.

He always told me that.

He said, "Eric is not someone who just follows instructions; if he sees something wrong, he will speak up."

Yes, Santi and I have discussed football matters, and I do think I will become a coach or sporting director in the future. Although I hope to continue playing for several more years.

Now that Mourinho is back in La Liga, you were only 11 when he first arrived. What do you think? Will the tension between Real Madrid and Barcelona return? Will Mourinho bring back the old rivalry, or is it much calmer now? Have we all matured a bit?

Yes, but I think there will always be something special between Barcelona and Real Madrid. I believe this is the greatest rivalry in the world. I was very young then and didn't experience those classic matches, but I always felt such games were great to watch.

Who will win the Ballon d'Or?

In my opinion, Yamal should win it—or any Spanish player—but for this year, I think it's Yamal.

What's it like for a full-back to play alongside Yamal?

He makes things easier, and it's enjoyable to watch him play.

What would you say to those who think Yamal doesn't help much defensively?

I think he has been very committed this season and has helped a lot. Our strong start to the league is no coincidence. The attacking players help us greatly, especially in the pressing we want to apply; they are very important. That's already clear.

What do you think about Raphinha not being on the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist?

Pedri isn't there either. What more can I say? But the good thing about football is that if you're already motivated, these things sometimes make you want to prove yourself even more. I think Raphinha's start to the season speaks for itself. We don't need to say much. For us, it's about letting him continue to play and maintain his current performance.

Do you realize how well Barcelona is playing now? Can you feel it on the pitch?

Yes, yes, there are moments in games that amaze all of us. We are very clear about our level because we see it in training. However, it's true that we are playing very well right now. And it's also true that the season has just started, and there's a long way to go. But I think if we can maintain this consistency throughout the season, we will achieve great things.

Can you reach the level of that Barcelona team from Guardiola's era?

I think, although there are similarities, we play differently. Their control of the game was complete and absolute. We are like that in many phases too, but for us, pressing is very important. Applying pressure immediately after losing the ball, continuously pressing the opponent, suffocating them, and always keeping the defensive line very high. So in this aspect, we are somewhat different from them.

Do you regret that Barcelona didn't pay tribute to the world champions at Camp Nou?

The club is very proud of everything we did that year, and they made that clear to us. That's it.

What are you like in private?

Well, very calm. Just a young person who watches games, plays games with friends, trains, and that's about it.

You rarely lose, but what's it like when you do?

I get very angry, yes. I have a quick temper.

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