We only had 3 centre backs at the club for 19-20 when Garcia made his debut. One of them was John Stones who was injured for most of that season. He moved to barca in the summer of 2021, in the season before 20-21 where he had announced his contract rejection, he only played 6 times in the prem as we won the league and a few of those were dead rubbers at the end where we had already wrapped up the league.
He got his chance in 19-20 because we were down to the bare bones and he did ok so got more chances. There were a couple of games towards the end of that season that people were up n arms about him starting as far as i remember people werent happy about like the Champions league loss to Lyon but he was in there beside Laporte and Fernandinho in a back three. Stones was ever injured that season despite being on the bench(didnt start consecutive games til October and then missed all of december and most of Jan) and everyone wanted him gone. Not sure what the issue with Otamendi was(other than him being mostly shit) but neither he or stones played the last two prem games of the season(Garcia did) that we won that year. We didnt replace Kompany that was our big mistake our only other central defender was Laporte so starting the season with just 3 centre backs one of them Stones who was/is never fit meant Garcia was always going to get games as we were down to the bare bones before we even started. Fern could do a job there but was more needed in midfield as Rodri had just joined and was mostly shit too that season
Looking at the 19/20 season its no wonder we were so poor just like this summer it had a massive hole in the squad before the season started(only 3 centre backs) versus this season with no back up striker or DM.