The power of the Barça youth system is more evident than ever. Guardiola often fields around six or seven local players in a game, whether at El Molinón or in the Champions League final. The doors to the first team are wide open to players fostered at the club itself, as Thiago and Fontàs well know, who have both just become fully fledged first team members.

This year there are an unprecedented 11 players from La Masia out of a total of 21. These aren’t reserves used as a complement, these are first team players in every sense of the word.

Starting eleven

It is years since the team has had so many of its own players to choose from, and although some players would have to play in unfamiliar positions, Guardiola could theoretically play them all at once: Valdés in goal; Puyol and Fontàs as full backs; Busquets and Piqué at centre back; Xavi, Thiago and Cesc in midfield and Pedro, Messi and Iniesta up front. Cesc completes an eleven that would fill any Barça fan with pride.

Nine under Rijkaard

Under the Dutchman in the 2003/04 season, there were eight local players in the first team: Valdés, Puyol, Xavi, Gerard, Gabri, Luis García and Motta. But they weren’t all regular starters. In 2008, there were nine: Valdés, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Giovanni, Messi, Oleguer, Bojan and Jorquera. Under Guardiola, the number has done nothing but increase.

La Masia products in recent years

Season 2010/11: Valdés, Piqué, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Bojan, Messi, Jeffren, Busquets and Pedro.
Season 2009/10: Valdés, Piqué, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Bojan, Busquets and Pedro.
Season 2008/09: Valdés, Piqué, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Bojan, Busquets and Jorquera.
Season 2007/08: Valdés, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Giovanni, Messi, Oleguer, Bojan and Jorquera.
Season 2006/07: Valdés, Motta, Puyol, Xavi, Messi, Oleguer, Iniesta and Jorquera.
Season 2005/06: Valdés, Motta, Puyol, Xavi, Gabri, Oleguer, Iniesta and Jorquera.
Season 2004/05: Valdés, Motta, Puyol, Xavi, Gerard, Oleguer, Iniesta and Jorquera.
Season 2003/04: Valdés, Puyol, Xavi, Gerard, Gabri, Luis Garcia, Motta and Jorquera.