Barcelona duo reflect on debut, Muriqi incident after Mallorca 0-3 Barcelona – “He hit me in the face” | OneFootball

Joan Garcia marked his official Barcelona debut with a clean sheet in the 3-0 win at Son Moix, offering security between the posts despite having little to do against a Mallorca side reduced to nine men before halftime.

The 24-year-old’s night was not without drama, however, as he suffered hand discomfort during the warm-up and later took a kick to the face from Vedat Muriqi, which saw the striker being sent off.

What Joan Garcia said about Mallorca game

Speaking to the media after the game, Joan Garcia talked about the incident with Muriqi, offering some key insights as to how the entire ordeal took place.

“He hits me in the face. I haven’t seen it repeated, but it hits me in the face. I don’t know which part of my body, but it hits me in the face. If VAR said it was red, I guess that’s what it is,” he said (Mundo Deportivo). “I’ll put some ice on it now.”

Another hotly debated moment came when Ferran Torres doubled Barça’s lead while Mallorca captain Raillo was down on the pitch.

Garcia defended his teammate’s decision to play on: “It’s the referee who has to blow his whistle, and until he blows his whistle, we have to play.”

Garcia also offered his thoughts on Barcelona’s overall performance and his personal debut.

“Very happy to play my first league match, it’s special, especially since it came with a win and keeping a clean sheet,” he said.

“It was a bit strange. It’s not normal for a team to be down two in the first half, but in the end, these are the situations in the game.

Things could have ended very badly for Joan Garcia. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

“We knew how to play the game. We would have liked to score a goal a little earlier to make sure, but we’re happy with the victory,” he added.

The Barcelona goalkeeper went on to talk about Hansi Flick and how he has been guiding him this summer.

“He asks me, above all, to always be alert to the movements behind me and to help the team as much as I can. This is a role I feel comfortable in, but I need to keep improving, and I’m very happy,” he said.

“A Barcelona goalkeeper must be alert to many things, and with the opponent’s numerical disadvantage, fewer balls reach the goal, but I feel great happiness,” he added.

Finally, the Barcelona goalkeeper talked about his registration process, which took longer than necessary but was finally done in time.

“I was calm. I would have liked my registration to be completed earlier, but the club was conveying confidence and reassurance to me, so I was at ease,” he concluded.

What Jofre Torrents said after the Mallorca game

Joan Garcia wasn’t the only one who made his debut on the night, as youngster Jofre Torrents was also handed his first-team debut when he appeared as a substitute.

“Honestly, I’m really happy. As I said, it was my lifelong dream to play an official match with Barcelona, the best team in the world – honestly, I’m really happy and very proud, and now I have to keep working,” the youngster said after the match (h/t Cat Radio).

Flick has full faith in Jofre Torrents’ abilities (Photo by Rafa Babot/Getty Images)

When asked about Barcelona stepping off the gas pedal after the red cards, the defender replied, “I think it’s clear that we’re not used to playing against nine players, but that’s no excuse.

“We are Barcelona, and the fewer players the opponent has, the more we should capitalise on it. I tried to give my best, and that’s all there is to it.”

The youngster also talked about the Lamine Yamal goal, adding, “When I saw Lamine Yamal cut inside and find space, I almost knew the ball was going in.”

Finally, Torrents offered his thoughts on his future, especially amid interest from Real Betis, who were keen on signing the fullback on a loan deal. Torrents, though, has no plans to leave Barça.

“My goal and dream is to play as many matches as possible with the club of my life, Barcelona. And with every opportunity the coach gives me, I will try to make the most of it,” he concluded.