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Aston Villa fans say young player was ‘exceptional’ alongside Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford in FA Cup win over Cardiff

Giuseppe Labellarte

Fri 28 February 2025 22:10, UK

Aston Villa are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after running out 2-0 winners over Cardiff City on Friday night.

The Villans dominated proceedings from the off, including 31 touches in the opposition box in the first half, but both sides remained level at the break.

Aston Villa eventually broke the deadlock midway through the second half, getting on the scoresheet in the 68th minute of the match.

Marcus Rashford got in behind the defence and cut back for fellow January signing Marco Asensio to sweep home.

Asensio then made it four goals from two home games in the 80th minute, slotting home following a Leon Bailey cutback.

Villa fans certainly have two new fan favourites in Asensio and Rashford, but another January signing also received widespread praise after the match.

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Aston Villa fans impressed with Andres Garcia

The player in question is Andres Garcia, who joined Villa from Spanish outfit Levante for a reported £6million fee plus £1million in add-ons.

Garcia was making his seventh appearance for the Villans since his move, and he completed the full 90 minutes for the third time in claret and blue.

Villa fans loved how the 20-year-old did against Cardiff, with one fan writing on X: “Mad how much better Garcia is than Cash.”

One supporter said “Garcia is our first-choice right-back and it’s as simple as that”, while another wrote “Garcia is some player”.

The praise kept coming, with one fan writing: “Garcia is absolutely class, immense work ethic and seems proper humble. Love the lad.”

Another said: “Second half so much better, Asensio is him, Rashford is class, Garcia exceptional… all amazing!”

Some fans felt not including Garcia in the Champions League knockout phase squad was a mistake.

“After watching Garcia since he signed, I feel for him that he missed out on the CL squad cos we could defo use a player like him at right back,” wrote one fan.

“Attacks his man every opportunity he gets but is equally good defending. Mistake aside against LFC hasn’t done a lot wrong.”

How Andres Garcia fared v Cardiff

Garcia is starting to find his feet at Villa and he delivered a solid display against Cardiff.

Covering for the injured Matty Cash, Garcia knew when he needed to go forth and overlap or stay back. When needing to counter, he surged forward with great speed.

At just 20 years of age, he’s still right at the beginning of his career, and it’ll be exciting to see how he continues to develop in claret and blue.