BARCELONA: Barcelona’s 1-0 La Liga win at Villarreal on Sunday was engineered by Lionel Messi but it was not the four-times World Player of the Year but yet another promising teenager from the club’s famed academy who scored the winner.
Barca struggled to break down a determined Villarreal side at the Madrigal but got the breakthrough eight minutes from time when 19-year-old substitute Sandro Ramirez, making his official debut, turned a Messi centre into the net from close range.
Ramirez’s effort came after fellow academy graduate Munir el Haddadi, also 19 and also making his first official appearance, struck in the 3-0 opening day victory at home to Elche.
Their success appears to confirm that new coach Luis Enrique’s strategy of deploying Barca-trained youngsters is working well in the early stages of the campaign.
A former Barca and Spain midfielder, Luis Enrique replaced Argentine Gerardo Martino, who was sacked after the Catalan club ended the 2013-14 season without major silverware.
“It is gratifying seeing that the youngsters are helping us so much,” Luis Enrique told a news conference.
“We are happy for him (Ramirez) and for the dedication of all the young players,” he added.
“We have a lot of room for improvement but the response of the players has been monstrous. It’s still early but there is room for optimism.”
Barca’s “La Masia” soccer school has produced a host of top players in recent decades, including Argentina captain Messi and former player and coach Pep Guardiola. Luis Enrique is hoping he can create a side with the right mix of home-grown talent and players purchased from other clubs like new arrivals Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic and the established Neymar.
REUTERS
