CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy rookie Rafael Garcia is still learning the right back position and during the club’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, the midfielder turned outside back received the lesson of a lifetime.
In his 45 minute stint against Tottenham, the rookie from Cal-State Northridge was matched up against the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon, who orchestrated the Spurs attack as they pushed for the go-ahead goal. Despite having just a handful of appearances at the position under his belt, Garcia did not shy away from the challenge as he helped the Galaxy defense grind out a draw against the English Premier League club.
Garcia's thoughts are below...
(On being out there against top players…)
GARCIA: “It’s a great experience. Going up against Bale was certainly not easy and then going up against Lennon too. It certainly was not easy, but I gave my all and I like to think that I did pretty well.”
(On settling into outside back…)
GARCIA: “It’s not my natural position, but when you get the opportunity, you need to learn how to adapt quickly, but it was good for me. I enjoyed my time there.”
(On what Bruce Arena has told him about playing as an outside back…)
GARCIA: “For me, it’s all about getting minutes. I’ll do it any position so for me it was a good experience and any position that he wants to play me, I’ll be happy to contribute.”
(On how the rookies performed in the second half…)
GARCIA: “You know, I thought we did pretty well at times. They got in behind us a few times, but I thought we defended well overall and we had maybe one or two chances, but against a team like that if you get one or two chances then you take them. One thing about the young guys is that we’re trying to prove ourselves and any chances we get we’re going out there and we’re fighting till the end.”
