Barcelona’s secret: Let the kids play

Posted Wednesday, December 22, 2010 by YAHOO Sport

BARCELONA, Spain (AP)—The key to the success of Barcelona’s youth academy is giving the young players a chance to play, according to coach Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola said Tuesday the youth setup in Barcelona is no better than at many other clubs, but the “difference is that here we give them playing time.”

Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, the three nominees for the 2011 “Ballon d’Or” award for the world player of the year, are all graduates of Barca’s La Masia academy.

Guardiola dedicated his team’s 5-0 win over Real Madrid earlier this season to “15 to 20 years” of work dedicated to building “a style of play.”

“It’s due to the good fortune of having Xavi and Iniesta here from a very young age,” he said.

Of Barcelona’s three summer signings, David Villa, Javier Mascherano and Adriano, only the first is a regular starter, while the latter two, once key members of their former clubs, are mainly used as substitutes.

Adriano, who joined the club from Sevilla during the offseason, said Barca’s successful youth system makes it harder for new players arriving from other clubs to break into the team.

“Of course (it’s tougher), there is always competition since there are people looking to raise their level,” the Brazilian defender said.

Barcelona has always had homegrown players in its starting 11, but their numbers have increased since Guardiola, himself a product of the club’s academy, took over as head coach at the beginning of the 2008-2009 season.

Guardiola had spent the previous season coaching Barcelona’s B team, and he brought youngsters Sergio Busquets and Pedro Rodriguez with him when he took over the first team.

Now, both have won the World Cup with Spain, as well as the Champions League and Spanish league titles with Barcelona.

Guardiola called Pedro “the best sidekick” to accompany Messi and Villa in Barcelona’s attack.

The 23-year-old forward scored two goals in last weekend’s 5-1 rout of Espanyol and has 11 goals in all competitions this season.

“(Pedro) is perfect. He has all the virtues to complement the players that carry the weight of the game,” his coach said.