Eric Garcia: We hope this is our Champions League year, Rodri will help us a lot

Eric Garcia, Barcelona's defender, has raised the bar for the team's ambitions ahead of the new season, confirming that the players at the Catalan club dream of winning the Champions League title.

After Barcelona's 2-1 victory over Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper Trophy, García stated in comments reported by Spanish newspaper "Sport": "We hope this is the year, yes, this is the ambition of all the players. With the new signings, we have taken a step forward."

A Barcelona defender praised the development of the team's squad, stating: "Players like Lamine, Kobarsi, and Bernal are gaining more experience, and when looking at the squad list, we can see the level is rising."

On a personal level, García is experiencing a remarkable period after being chosen by Hans Flick as one of the team leaders alongside Raphinha and Pedri, pending the final vote from the locker room.

Garcia spoke about the possibility of being relied upon in the full-back position, saying: "Centre-back is my natural position, but it’s also true that the coach told me he wants me to play as a full-back this season. It’s a position I feel comfortable in, although I still have room for improvement, and I feel more at ease as time goes on."

Garcia welcomed Rodri's arrival at Barcelona, confirming his good knowledge of his new teammate from the Spanish national team, saying: "He is a great person, and as a player, I don't need to discover him now. I am very happy to have him with us here, and I am sure he will help us a lot."