Fighter, firebrand, fan favourite - Santiago Garcia has only been with SV Werder for one year and it's already hard to imagine the Green-Whites without him. So it's no surprise...
Fighter, firebrand, fan favourite - Santiago Garcia has only been with SV Werder for one year and it's already hard to imagine the Green-Whites without him. So it's no surprise...
Fighter, firebrand, fan favourite - Santiago Garcia has only been with SV Werder for one year and it's already hard to imagine the Green-Whites without him. So it's no surprise that the Argentinean hasn't missed a single minute thus far this season. He will also be racing up and down the left side against Bayer Leverkusen.
WERDER.DE met up with the 26-year-old at Weser Stadium at the beginning of the training week. ‘Santi' talked about the up-coming match against Leverkusen, the showdown with Karim Bellarabit and his connection to Naldo.
WERDER.DE: You just predicted the third match day for WERDER.TV. If you are right, then we will win Friday 2-0. Why are you so confident?
Santiago Garcia: "If we play in Leverkusen the same way we did in the second half against Hoffenheim, then I think we can have a good game. Leverkusen are a very strong opponent because they have a lot of high quality players on their team. So, it will be a difficult match but the last match-up against Hoffenheim gives me confidence that we can pick up points in Leverkusen as well."
WERDER.DE: You will have your hands full Friday evening, especially with Karm Bellarabi. How have you prepared for the match-up?
Garcia: "I have already talked to the coach about the match and of course talked about Karim Bellarabi. He is a very fast player and he showed off his skills in the first two league matches through good performances and goals. So it will be a difficult match for me personally. It will be important for me to be very close to him."
WERDER.DE: Last week you were at the Germany vs Argentina international game with Franco Di Santo. It was reported that you also met with Angel Di Maria. What did you talk about?
Garcia: "Yeah, we were at the match but I did not talk to Di Maria. We've known each other a while. I played together with him for one year at my home club CA Rosario. But we haven't had contact since then. But I did talk to Gabriel Heinze at the match as he was also in the stands and he told me many interesting things."
WERDER.DE: At the latest at the nomination for the national team you will have a chance to talk to Di Maria. Is the Copa America next year a goal for you?
Garcia: "Of course the national team and that tournament are a goal for me. But at the moment I am fully concentrated on Werder. If I can show good performances in the matches here, then I have better chances of being nominated for the national team."
WERDER.DE: In addition to the international match, you used your free time to meet with Naldo. How do you know each other and what did you talk about?
Garcia: "I met Naldo through Aaron Hunt. We met each other with our wives before the Ailton farewell match. He is a great player who played he a very long and successful time here. He told me if I go out their with all my heart that the fans will like that. Otherwise we talked about everyday things. We really didn't talk about football."
