Pep Guardiola to incorporate upcoming reserve players in first team squad – La Liga Special (Part 2)
Joining http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Thiago-c34888 Alcantara and Martin Montoya in hunt for increased first team opportunities will be Andreu Fontas. With a lack of defensive recruits at Barcelona, he will be looking to make the jump and get first team minutes under his belt. The departure
of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gabriel-Milito-c14321 has not helped the Catalan cause, but this will give Fontas the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities as a player.
Twenty-one year old Fontas is a central defender by nature, but like his fellow academy graduates can play in a variety of different roles on the pitch, excelling especially in the defensive midfield position. The former Barcelona B coach, Luis Enrique,
moulded him in to the uncompromising central defender he is right now, a position he has excelled in so far with the B team.
He came through the youth ranks of CD Banyoles before a solitary season at Girona led him to Barcelona in 2007. Since then he has represented the reserve side in Segunda Division and taken part in first team duties. He made his first team debut against Sporting
de Gijon as he replaced another La Masia graduate, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gerard-c14664 Pique.
First team minutes came regularly when teammate Eric Abidal was diagnosed with a tumour in his liver and was sidelined indefinitely. He appeared in three consecutive games for La Liga giants, predominantly as a left back, and started against Deportivo la
Coruna in his favoured central defence role.
The youngster will be looking to feature more consistently in the new league campaign as Barcelona are short on numbers in central defence. Fontas has the ability to take charge of first team opportunities and can make the step up. He is a better option
than the makeshift defence setup of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Javier-Mascherano-c18071 and Gerard Pique.
Kiko Femenia will be looking to get games under his belt after appearing regularly for Hercules in Segunda Division as well as Liga BBVA. The attack minded player has 71 league appearances to his name whilst playing for his former employers. Kiko looks set
to have a bright career in front of him and he should be able to fulfil his dreams following his 2 million Euros transfer to Camp Nou.
All the budding stars displayed their skills in Barcelona’s preseason friendly against Southern http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Napoli-c40003. Les Cules would have been happy with a returning Cesc Fabregas in the team line-up, as well as players from the reserve team wearing the first
team jersey. The match witnessed the young guns match their wits with a much superior opposition, nevertheless a touch below the Catalan first team.
Alcantara and co. had a great outing for the first team as they dominated their opponents in every department of the game. Alcantara was the pick of the crop as he slotted beside Andres Iniesta in central midfield. The Spanish international hacked the ball
from Napoli players before playing it to his teammates.
Fontas on the other hand had a shaky start to the match as he succumbed to pressure from strikers http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ezequiel-Lavezzi-c13073. However, as the game progressed, he got settled in his role and was assured in possession. Keeping a steady offside trap
with Gerard Pique, he was calm and composed on the big stage.
Martin Montoya meanwhile showed why Pep Guardiola does not have a back-up for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dani-Alves-c9869 lined up. The right-back had a great game as he marshalled his flank. He was not only assuring in defence but joined the attack whenever possible.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Oriol-c28659 Romeu and Jefferen Suarez leaving the Catalan club to pursue their careers abroad, these young guns will be looking to take their place in
the first team.
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