Youth system of Barcelona
The current squad of Barcelona can be easily regarded as one of the best in the history of football. If there were any doubts, they have been cleared by nomination of three players from the current squad for the FIFA Ballon d’Or award.
Although there has been a little controversy regarding the nominations, but Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta really deserve to be named among the greats of the game.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lionel-Messi-c22296 is the only player who has already won the previous version of this award. Therefore, he has already been declared as a legend while the other two are still waiting to be included in that list. This year, however, the award might not go to Messi
as the World Cup would have a say in it. Also, Iniesta remained injured for a major part of the season which would also exclude his name. Xavi would be the probable winner and he really deserves it because of his exquisite and ultimate passing in the midfield.
In the past, there were other teams who got all the nominations for the best player award. The thing unique about this year is that the three players nominated have all been the products of youth academy of the same club. The three Barcelona players started
their childhood training at La Masia Academy and made it to the big stage as well.
It is not easy to make it through the Barcelona youth system. There are many youngsters who join the club at an early stage but only a few are able to make it to the senior level. Therefore, those who are able to make it to the top, through this rigorous
training and experience, have the ability to be among the best in the world.
In the last three years under Pep Guardiola, the world has really seen the results of this great youth academy. In the Barcelona squad, eight of the players from the usual starting XI have been playing in the youth squad as well. Six of these players were
included in the starting XI of the Spanish World Cup squad, under http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vicente-c36001 Del Bosque. The success that these players achieved is tremendous and it really speaks a lot about the great La Masia Academy.
During these years, Barcelona has won two consecutive La Liga titles. In the first year under Pep Guardiola, the Catalans won an unprecedented treble, including the Champions League and Copa Del Ray. Then the Catalans went on to complete their trophy cabinet
with Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. There was no other team in the whole world that could stop the onslaught of Barcelona who clean swept all the competitions in which they participated.
The Spanish side also took advantage of the great products of La Masia Academy. The team won their first FIFA World Cup in South Africa after years and years of unsuccessful campaigns. The credit goes to all the players but the influential players were Barcelona
superstars and this was reaffirmed when Xavi and Iniesta were nominated mainly because of their exploits in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/South-Africa-c757.
What makes these players great is the understanding that they have developed among them. After years of playing together from the very beginning of their football careers, these players can play blindfolded. This is obvious from the percentage of possession
in Barcelona matches, which has often rendered the opposition helpless. The passing is exquisite and the movement off the ball is exceptional.
This team would continue to succeed in the coming years unless they are hindered by something unexpected. Also, the Spanish team would continue to take advantage of the situation and would succeed in future as well. Other clubs of Europe must understand
the importance of youth system and must develop their academies as well.
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