I never expected Aston Villa to embrace me like a son – it has been the perfect transfer
I never expected Aston Villa to embrace me like a son – it has been the perfect transfer
Andres Garcia says Aston Villa staff have embraced him like a son following his move from Levante in January.
The right-back joined Villa for around £6m and has made a strong impression in his first couple of months at the club.
After making his top-flight debut at the start of February, Garcia featured in the following four Premier League matches before Villa’s 1-0 win over Brentford. He also played every minute of Villa’s wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Cardiff City in the FA Cup.
“I knew that everything at Aston Villa was run by Spanish people,” Garcia said of his move in an interview with ABC. “Unai too, of course. I know his career, I know the kind of coach he is – he’s very hungry to win, he’s super competitive.
“It’s something that’s also ingrained in me. The decision, when Aston Villa came calling, was easy because it couldn’t be better. The entire coaching staff is Spanish. There were also some super-class players like Dibu (Emi Martinez), Pau Torres, and Asensio.
“I’m surrounded by wonderful people, Spanish people. Even those who aren’t Spanish are good to me – everyone at the club. I didn’t expect the spectacular treatment I’ve received. In the end, they take care of you like a son, offering you every kind of support. The decision to join Aston Villa was very easy.”
He added: “The first few days were filled with a lot of change, trying to absorb as much as possible. I remember the entire coaching staff being very attentive to me, giving me advice.
“Then I watched a lot of training videos, and they showed me how previous players had corrected their mistakes. They taught me that everyone makes mistakes and that they can be reversed with hard work and perseverance. I saw what La Liga was like.
“I remember the first game, when I was surprised by the pace, especially in the first 30 minutes, when teams press the hardest, when there’s hardly any possession, and it’s a game of many counter-attacks and recoveries.
“But I consider myself a player who absorbs quickly, who adapts to any environment, and, as I said, I’m always trying to improve as much as I can with whatever the coaches tell me.”
Asked if he has had to make a big adaptation since leaving his homeland, Garcia said: “Yes, because I believe football is experienced differently here. From the first moment, you notice an extraordinary respect from the fans – I’d never seen that before. I remember the first game I watched from the stands, which was against Celtic in the Champions League. The atmosphere was spectacular.
“Everyone, even if a player made a mistake, applauded or supported him. I’d never seen that before, and I thought the opposite would be true. I assumed the higher level would mean the fans would be more demanding, but no. The English fans have enormous respect, and I think they experience football differently. That also helps the players a little.
“My goal is to live football to the fullest, achieve the highest level I can, and try to become an important figure in football – who knows what the future holds? Those are more or less the goals I have.
“If it can happen in Spain, then all the better, because it’s my home country and where I’ve always lived. But if it has to happen abroad, in another country, that’s no problem. In the end, you live in football; you know that these changes can happen, and you have to live with them.”
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