Madrid has set up in different shapes so far under Alonso but Garcia has adapted well and flourished
Real Madrid youngster Gonzalo Garcia has said that he hopes to be a great player for Los Blancos, but waved away comparisons to club legend Raul.
A product of Castilla, Garcia has shone for Madrid at the Club World Cup this summer, scoring four goals in five matches during the competition, including the early opener that set the tone for the 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals.
His form has helped Madrid reach the semi-finals, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday in New Jersey.
Speaking to reporters ahead of that fixture, Garcia said: “The fans are comparing me to Raul, a legend. If I can do half of what he did in this shirt, then it would already be beyond my dreams.
“I’ve worked and waited for this moment, but I never imagined things would move this quickly. I don’t feel a lot of pressure. I have been working and waiting for this moment.”
It is still early days for manager Xabi Alonso, who is currently experimenting to discover his best side. Against Dortmund, Alonso set up the squad in a 4-4-2 shape, with Garcia and Vinicius as the two forwards. The youngster impressed and was not taken off until the 86th minute, with Mbappe subbed on for the off-pace Vinicius Junior instead.
Madrid have also set up in a 4-3-3 and a 3-5-2 in the Club World Cup so far, but Garcia has adapted well and flourished, showing composure and positional intelligence beyond his years.
“The coach, the players, the staff all give me a lot of confidence,” said Garcia. “I feel so lucky to share a pitch and train with Kylian Mbappe. It is great to learn every day from the best player in the world.”
