Luis Garcia knows all about miracles, given he was part of Liverpool’s Champions League-winning team in 2005 that were 3-0 down at half-time of the Istanbul final.So the ongoing miracle of Malaysia, as we shall call it, is no surprise to the former Reds and Barcelona winger, who is now chief executive of a record-breaking team trying to be the biggest in south-east Asia.Johor Darul Ta’zim, or JDT, are on a world-record run of 113 domestic matches – and counting – unbeaten, with Garcia at the helm alongside the local crown prince and former Watford manager Xisco Munoz.Garcia, with a toothy grin and charismatic style, is here to tell Daily Mail Sport all about that, plus reminisce on that ‘ghost goal’ in the 2005 Champions League semi-final, then give his thoughts on Liverpool and old team-mate Xabi Alonso.But first, why the rather unusual move to Asia? ‘You are right, it sort of came out of nowhere,’ he tells us.‘After playing, I had done ambassadorial work for Liverpool and Barcelona, been working for ESPN but always wanted to look into the business side of football. I had been in meetings and was interested in that side of the game. Former Liverpool star Luis Garcia is overseeing a reign of unprecedented dominance with Malaysian side JDT (Source: Instagram/Luis Garcia) His playing career with the Reds was followed by stints in the media but he has hit his stride as a football executive‘I flew to Malaysia to meet with His Royal Highness and then it was very quick. From that opportunity, I understood his vision, the work he is behind and the journey they have been through since 2012 and what he wants to achieve with JDT.‘The amount of work, commitment and determination to make JDT the biggest club in south-east Asia is incredible. You can see it straight away, winning the league 12 times in a row, reaching the (Asian) Champions League quarter-final last year.‘We are like a European club based in Malaysia, the mentality is exactly the same. The academy is run by coaches made in Spain. It has been perfect for me – I am extremely happy and grateful and looking forward to where we can take the club in the future.’JDT won last season’s league by scoring 117 goals in 24 games, conceding just 10 and winning all but one match – a draw which Garcia describes as a ’wake-up call’.The Spaniard’s task is to grow football in the region and make JDT able to compete with Saudi Arabian clubs in the Asian Champions League. He is unveiling an app for global fans to feel closer to JDT and is in charge of the commercial deals with the likes of Nike, Hublot and Toyota.‘We are always trying to plan in advance,’ he says. ‘We want our youth teams to be successful and win trophies. We are looking into commercial deals for years in advance, we already have big ones.‘We also want to connect with fans around the world. We are unveiling JDT+, to give behind the scenes access to fans not just in Johar, maybe documentaries.‘My goal is that when I return to a place in the future, people are thankful for the work that we have done. Of course, if we could win a Champions League, that would be the dream.’Speaking of Champions Leagues, it is the European version that Garcia is best known for – specifically the ‘ghost goal’ he scored after four minutes of the semi-final against Chelsea that took Rafael Benitez’s side to the Istanbul final.‘I wish people would ask me more about it! It is special to have this memory of playing in this game and these moments,’ he tells us, laughing, before saying that Jose Mourinho is ‘still talking about it’.‘I have so much memorabilia, shirts and even a special edition Monopoly game. I was laughing about this last week.’Garcia, of course, still holds Liverpool dearly in his heart and has returned to Anfield many times since then, including to play in charity games. On the current side, he says: ‘Iraola arriving as a Spanish coach, I am sure he is going to do well.‘We saw it happen with Rafa Benitez, Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery, Roberto Martinez for a while. I have been following Iraola since his time at Rayo, his style of play is the kind I enjoy, the sort you go to the stadium to see.‘He plays proper football: possession, energy, dynamism. Liverpool have so much quality that if he is able to make the leap once again, the players are capable. Let’s not forget this club won the league just a couple of years ago.‘Iraola has a big challenge in front of him but I trust that he will do a good job. I see the quality on the field in every single line for Liverpool. They are still missing pieces but I have no doubt the intention is to challenge again for every single competition.’ Over the summer, Garcia welcomed former Liverpool team-mate Xabi Alonso to Johor in his new guise as Chelsea managerGarcia was also keen to discuss his old colleague Xabi Alonso, who he welcomed to Johor in the summer for a friendly – in which JDT managed to get a 3-3 draw to the delight of the 28,741 crowd.‘Xabi’s visit to Malaysia was fantastic for all of us at the club and the supporters,’ says Garcia, who played with Alonso at Liverpool – although when asked for his dream five-a-side team of ex-colleagues, he picked Victor Valdes, Carles Puyol, Steven Gerrard, Xavi and Ronaldinho.‘To host an incredible match with one of the biggest clubs in the world. Xabi could deliver his fantastic knowledge of the game. Once again he has a brilliant opportunity in front of him and I am sure he will do a great job.‘We could see how JDT competed with the biggest stars in the game and one of the best managers. I have no doubt Xabi will do a fantastic job at Chelsea, he is starting to implement his philosophy.‘It will take a while because it is not easy to manage a team that big, but he has a team full of youth and talent. I have no doubt they will achieve their targets. They are not challengers at the moment but yes, to be back in the top four definitely.’