Barça midfielder Andrés Iniesta has spoken on the programme ‘Catalunya vespre esports’ on Catalunya Radio, in a special broadcast from La Masia saying that “La Masia is one big family for all the people living there”.
Andrés Iniesta was the protagonist of the programme ‘Catalunya vespre esports’ on
Catalunya Radio hosted by Òscar Fernández and which decided to broadcast especially out of FC
Barcelona’s youth facility. The Director of La Masia, Carles Folguera, and the President of
Barça Atlètic, Jacint Borràs, also took part, the latter saying that "if there is one thing we can
be proud of, it’s having a facility like this to train so many young people and at the same
time helps them satisfy their dream of one day making it to the first team”.
A large group of young footballers live at La Masia, some of which play for the Junior A and
B sides at FC Barcelona. Iniesta was asked a host of questions about his own memories of forming
part of the Masia family.
“Illusion, sacrifice and work”
Andrés Iniesta, like so many other first team players that started out
at La Masia, has set an example for the new set of youngsters at the Camp Nou to watch through the
emblematic windows of the building. “I would tell these young players never to lose their
hope, and to work hard every single day to make the dream of playing in the first team come true,
which is something very few are able to do” he said.
Playing style and philosophy of life
The midfielder arrived at La Masia when he was 14 and says being there taught him a whole
series of values about how a footballer should lead his life. “At La Masia, as you grow as a
footballer, you also acquire values that make you more mature. Effort, sacrifice, solidarity and
generosity are values that the people that run La Masía are always trying to instil in us”.
“I will keep the good memories”
The player from Fuentealbilla remembers that “the first days there were very sad
because I missed my family and mostly not being at home but I’d rather treasure the good
memories I have from here: training, trips with my mates and being able to be so close to first
team players when they were training”.
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“The loss has made us stronger”
Barça lost their first game this week, at home to Rubin Kazan in the Champions League. Iniesta
commented that "we didn’t deserve to lose after playing the way we did. We didn’t have
a bad game, but we have to learn from our mistakes. That defeat will make us stronger later
on”.