Lionel Messi and Co graduated from Barcelona's La Masia academy schooled in the fine art of the beautiful game
Barcelona’s fabulous Champions League finalists were forged because of the Catalan club’s commitment to youth development even when some of the youngsters struggled, according to coach Pep Guardiola.
Genius: Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola knows that Lionel Messi (front) is in a world class of his own Photo: AP
By Henry Winter, Football Correspondent 11:00PM BST 04 May 2011
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As well as reaching the Champions League final at Wembley on May 28, Barcelona’s mix of home-grown and expensive recruits could seal La Liga this weekend. If Real Madrid fail to defeat Sevilla, Barcelona will retain their title by beating Espanol.
The success of the La Masia finishing school is phenomenal.
Eight of the Barcelona side involved in their triumphant Champions League final win over Manchester United in Rome in 2009 were home-grown (Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol, Victor Valdes, who had a brief teenage spell at Tenerife, and sub Pedro).
Six of Spain’s 2010 World Cup final starting XI were La Masia graduates (Pique, Puyol, Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets, Pedro). The three finalists for last year’s Ballon d’Or, Iniesta, Messi and Xavi, were all nurtured at La Masia.
Barring Dani Alves’s involvement, Barcelona’s goal in the 1-1 draw with Real Madrid was a home-grown affair, started by Valdes and accelerated by Iniesta with that magnificent pass to Pedro, whose finish brooked no argument from Iker Casillas.
The quality of Barcelona’s football was particularly seen in a purple patch midway through the first half when Madrid could not get near the ball, which danced between Iniesta, Messi and Xavi while Pique often worked the ball out from the back via the deep-lying midfielder, Busquets.
As well as schooling them in such a sophisticated style of football, Barcelona’s academy inevitably breeds a camaraderie. There is a togetherness to Guardiola’s side born of their days growing up at La Masia.
But it has not been a seamless progression. “We have had to be so patient with these players,’’ said Guardiola, himself a hugely successful graduate of the academy.
“When they were 12 and 14 in the youth team they won nothing. For six years they didn’t win anything and they could have been kicked out of the club. But we were patient. We believed that home-grown talent was important and we took strength from Real Madrid in the 1980s when they won so much with local players. So we waited.
“Players like Xavi and Iniesta were not that good as youth players and developed. At 18 and 19 they had lost more games than they won. Now look, a beautiful team. The hard work by so many people has paid off. The fruits of our work is before you.
“They have gone from zero to big success and I am grateful to these players. It is not easy to win so much and stay committed in every competition. It is a privilege for me to be their coach.”
It is not cheap, the operation reporting to cost around £5 million a year, but the rewards are obvious. On form, and taking Cristiano Ronaldo’s £80 million as the benchmark, Messi alone is worth more than £100 million.
“He’s one of the greatest players created and the best in the world today,’’ added Guardiola after the draw against Ronaldo’s Real.
Barcelona’s coach added that the club were determined to mix in the best talent from elsewhere. “It is also important that we continue to sign top players, like David Villa,’’ said Guardiola.
Guardiola was aggrieved this week by Madrid accusations of play-acting, pointing out the character of his squad. “They might think we are unsporting but I think exactly the opposite,’’ he reflected. “Fourteen of 20 players in the squad have grown up in this house and they all respect the values of the house. They have been educated and trained to play Champions League finals.’’
In the fallout from the fractious El Clasico semi-final, Uefa still has to investigate the conduct of particularly Jose Mourinho, the Real Madrid manager who alleged a conspiracy of referees favouring Guardiola’s club.
On Tuesday, Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano was constantly play-acting, an issue that will continue to be an issue in the build-up to Wembley.
Mascherano’s behaviour was a contrast to the likes of La Masia alumni such as Iniesta, Messi and Xavi, who use their skill to defeat the opposition, although Busquets is hardly an ambassador for Uefa’s Respect campaign.
Wembley, though, will be a showcase for Barcelona’s exceptional academy of arts.
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