Remember Luis Figo and the pig’s head? Espanyol boss says Barcelona wrong to highlight fan concerns ahead of Joan Garcia return

Manolo Gonzalez says Espanyol won’t take lessons in fan etiquette from Barcelona ahead of Joan Garcia’s hotly anticipated return to the RCDE Stadium tomorrow.

Goalkeeper Garcia became the first player in 31 years to move from Espanyol to Barcelona last summer, sparking a hostile reaction from his former club’s fans. Ex-Espanyol president Joan Collett even said the 24-year-old had “gone with the monster” by moving to Camp Nou.

Garcia is set to make his first return to his old stamping ground when La Liga resumes after a short Christmas hiatus this weekend.

Barcelona are reportedly worried the reception for Garcia could overstep the mark but Gonzalez says the league leaders should remember their own fans’ actions when Luis Figo returned to Catalonia in the colours of Real Madrid in 2002 with missiles raining down on the Portugal international, including famously a pig’s head.

He said: “The fans will make it lively, it’s a derby, we won’t come out with a bouquet of roses. This is normal in a rivalry. But people have to be aware that [if anything does occur], the first ones to be harmed are the club and the team.

“The fans are conscious of that and have to be calm. It seems like everyone is waiting for Espanyol fans to mess up so they can get their hands on it.

“[We don’t need] behavioural lessons. Remember what happened with Figo? It is a football match and nothing else.”

Asked specifically about Garcia, Gonzalez snapped: ”I don’t care about this subject, I only care about winning.”

Barcelona boss Flick calls for calm

Espanyol have erected nets behind the goal to reduce the risk of Garcia being hit by objects and Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has called for calm.

The German said: “I am positive. We are people, we have to live together. We have to respect each other, which is the most important thing in soccer. I think we have to be on the same page.

“The most important thing in soccer is to support your team, not to go against the other. It’s the best for your team. Everyone must send a positive energy. You have to be focused on your team, not on the other.”

He says Garcia is calm and in a confident mood ahead of the game.

“I don’t see any differences [in his demeanour] compared to the last few weeks,” added Flick. “He has confidence and believes in his strengths and quality, that’s what he wants to show tomorrow.”