11.11.2009 13:02
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.