16.12.2010 10:51

Derby game full of local talent

Jordi Clos

The majority of the players used by both Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino in La Liga so far this season have come up through their respective clubs’ youth teams. In Barça’s case, 62,5% of the players used have been home grown talent.

Since Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino took over at Barça and Espanyol, they have both made a big commitment to young players and more than half of the players used by both teams this year have come up from the youth teams and the main backbone of both teams are home grown players, particularly for Barça.

13 out of 21 home grown

In the first 15 La Liga games, Pep Guardiola has called on 21 players, all the first team squad except for Pinto, and three from the B team - Fontàs, Thiago and Nolito. Of those, 13 have come up through La Masia and have put in 9.256 minutes (62,5 %). The base of the team is also dominated by home grown players, with Valdés (1350), Alves (1291), Iniesta (1270), Villa (1169), Messi (1166), Piqué (1013) Puyol (1010) and Pedro (1001 minutes played), the players who’ve figured most.

Pochettino shows faith in youngsters

Pochettino has also shown his confidence in Espanyol’s youngsters, with striker Álvaro Vázquez the latest promise to come through. Of the 27 players used, 14 are from the club’s youth teams, although the four players who’ve played most minutes - Callejón (1215), Forlín (1258), Luis García (1203) and Verdú (1146) have been bought in. The home grown players at Espanyol have played 39.7% of the time so far in the league – 5847 minutes.