You are Andres Garcia. You are 22 years old and six weeks ago, you played in the Spanish second division. You quietly impress good judges, but above all unknown outside this league, but to discover football at the higher or international division at all levels.
Now you are at Villa Park, playing in the world’s largest national league, selected by one of the most decorated coaches in your country. Marco Asensio is a few meters away, among the best players in the recent history in your country. And facing you is the idea of many people on the strongest side of Europe.
In the middle of all the noise and the pump, you settle in your work, by doing the push from top to bottom of your side, sparkling on a few good crosses, winning a corner, waking the fans in the northern stand. You seem to belong here.
And then, for only a moment, your concentration ends under pressure. Your pass operates directly to Diogo Jota. You put your hands at your head, defenseless and in just four seconds, Liverpool transforms your error into a lens.
You look at the lawn. Now what? Do you stay or get up?
“Young players, they have to get their own process,” said Unai Emery later. “I think the potential of Andres Garcia is really huge, we can exploit, and because his orientation with us was so fast, he does not play really uncomfortable. He plays more or less in our idea, Get your position and get your qualities in our structure.
Emery trusts her processes and Garcia should also. With a little luck, he was reassured by the faith of his manager in his abilities and by the very rapid response of many of his teammates, who were clearly alerts to the danger that their inexperienced colleague could be submerged by emotion and the Self -doubt.
To his big credit, Garcia returned to work, contributed well and was warmly applauded when he was substituted in the second period.
“He can make mistakes, but learn quickly and try to do the process still waiting,” said Emery. “(It is) as well demanding every day … His attitude is fantastic, it is the most important of course.”
Wherever Garcia’s career takes him, he will no doubt remember this night and this moment. It must have been deeply painful, but there are good reasons to think that this promising young player – the least announced and therefore perhaps the most interesting of the recent villa signatures – will be stronger for having lived it.
The most difficult league in the world can also be the largest place to learn.
