FCBARCELONA.CAT

11.11.2009 13:02

A Cup victory “Made in La Masia”

Vanessa Forns

Barça are through to the last 16 in the Spanish Cup and a large part of the credit must go to the contribution of ten home-grown players. All five goals on Tuesday were “Made in La Masia”.

Josep Guardiola announced a starting line-up that included seven players brought up through the youth ranks: Puyol, Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Jonathan, Pedro, Bojan and Jeffren. In fact the midfield and the attack were 100% “Made in La Masia”.

In the second half he used three more home-grown players: Fontàs, Messi and Xavi. So, of the fourteen players that took part in the match, ten came up through the Barça youth ranks, with Pinto, Alves, Márquez and Maxwell providing the perfect complete.

Youth policy

From the very first day he took the job, Josep Guardiola has made it his policy to bring on players from the reserves. He has handed first team debuts to nine young players from La Masia (the Barça academy) in just a year and a half, all of whom have responded well.

Goals “Made in La Masia”

All five goals on Tuesday evening came in the second half and were scored by four home-grown players in just 24 minutes. The best proof that the Barça academy is producing talent at a dizzy rate.