Eric García’s chance for Manchester City has arrived

After Pep Guardiola announced center-back John Stones would miss four to five weeks ahead of City’s Champions League opener against Shakhtar Donetsk, highly-rated 18-year old Eric García could get his chance to shine.

With an injury crisis at the back following key injuries to primary defensive partnership Aymeric Laporte and John Stones and the departure of Vincent Kompany to Anderlecht, Manchester City, renowned for their depth, are suddenly left with one fit regular center-half: Nicolás Otamendi. Enter 18-year old former Barcelona defender Eric García, who has impressed in consecutive preseasons and made his senior competitive debut against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup a year ago.

Although City will likely opt for the partnership of Otamendi and natural midfielder Fernandinho on Wednesday in Ukraine, that pairing is far from an ideal fit. The Brazilian will further weaken an already-vulnerable defense in the air, and while his intercepting talents are ideal at the base of midfield, playing in central defense is a different animal altogether. Combined with Otamendi’s mistake-prone tendencies, which were exposed in City’s shock loss to Norwich on Saturday, this could easily be the worst defensive partnership of the Guardiola era. Another option would be to move fullback Kyle Walker into the center and start recent signing João Cancelo on the right, but Walker has only played as the right-sided central defender in a back three and has struggled at the position.

While it may be a baptism by fire for García, the 18-year old Spaniard has shown poise at every stage of his career to this point. The defender had captained each of his Barcelona youth sides until he joined City two years ago, despite playing at a higher age group. Guardiola has been effusive in his praise of the youngster although he has seldom featured for the first team.

"“He has good vision, a good pass,” Guardiola said per Goal.com. “It’s incredible, I’m very pleased. He didn’t make one mistake with the ball, he played with huge personality.”"

García is not the quickest player, nor is he an aerial presence, but his ball-playing ability suits Guardiola’s system perfectly. Although the injury situation is far from ideal given City’s title-winning aspirations, this could represent a key opportunity for the club’s youth to make an impact at senior level for perhaps the first time in their careers. Although not as close to the first team as his Spanish counterpart, 17-year old Taylor Harwood-Bellis impressed in pre-season and could also feature if the situation remains as it stands. A native of Stockport in Greater Manchester, much like rising youth star Phil Foden, Harwood-Bellis has yet to make his senior debut.

This situation is dire without a doubt for City; as a club with such lofty expectations to be left in such disarray in arguably the most important position on the pitch, the Citizens are in trouble moving forward. After a shocking defensive performance cost City in a huge defeat at Carrow Road, they have now lost the best remaining center-half at the club. However, if the club’s youth development can come good, especially with regards to García, City can hold it down until Laporte and Stones are back to full fitness.