Yesterday we drove out to the Joan Gamper training complex where Barca does most of its training, to watch the Infantil A team – ages 13 and 14. The complex is quite a way out of town, and it is located behind fairly tight security. There are 9 fields, some with artificial turf, the others very high quality closely mown grass. It’s an impressive complex, with lights on all fields, bleachers for most of them, training and changing rooms (behind further security, not open to the public).
On entry, you walk down a long concrete causeway with fields on the right. We stopped for a while to watch an older age group team (U16?) demolish their opponents for a while, clearly using that familiar Barca style – switching the ball around at the back, short and medium passes up the middle out of defense to the striker coming back or the midfielders, then distributing out to the wings or switches to the opposite side. 7-0 Barca.
Game finished and the Infantil A game was starting, so we hustled off to field 7. This turned out to be the premier field: a large stack of concrete bleachers rising up from the near side of the field where spectators were congregating, and a beautiful playing surface. It appears this is the field made to Pep Guardiola’s specifications as an exact copy of the field at
The place was quite crowded – a maybe 3-400 spectators (for a U14 game). The game was also shown live on Barca’s TV channel, so there were TV crews all over, along with the TV announcer. All very exciting.
The two teams emerged from the corner of the field, where player passes were checked by the ref. Barca were playing Espanyol, cross town rivals. The Barca players looked a bit bigger, and included four players from
The game itself was close for a while. Even though Barca dominated, they had trouble scoring. Eventually their best player, #6, received a short corner while the defense snoozed and blasted a shot from well inside the corner of the box that ripped past the goalie before he could react.
Even at this age, Barca played in Barca style.
Interestingly, no overlapping fullbacks to speak of. Their job at this age is completely defensive.
Gradually, the game is dominated by three players – all African. The Barca #6 is incredible: He is basically playing defensive mid, and looks like a slightly smaller Michael Essian. Plays like him too: incredible first touch, tremendous turns and shielding, fantastic field awareness, and unbelievable strength: just shrugging off tacklers with sheer physical arrogance. Two footed.
He has clearly watched a lot of Xavi Hernandez – he makes a lot of tight turns, often with the outside of either foot, as well as a lot of dummy turns to create space. Any youth team could work on this often neglected area.
Barca #8 is similar though slightly less dominant – playing a bit further up the pitch, but linking constantly with #6. Both players keep the ball switching, often making difficult skip passes over the fullback to the opposite winger playing wide, or through to the forwards.
Up front, Barca have another extraordinary physical specimen: looks Kenyan or Cameroonian (at least two of the African players spoke French, so maybe all came from
Espanyol had scored on one of their few threats late in the first half after a defensive breakdown on the wing and a fine cross and header.1-1 at half time, and it’s starting to get colder. But soon after the half, the Espanyol defense backed off #9 just outside the area, and he turned sharply to smash one high past the (rather small) goalie from about
Barca started subbing, bringing off one of the rather ineffectual wingers. Both looked like they could be good but had poor games. They were surprisingly lacking in real pace (could not burst past their defenders) and moves. The new winger, a small but very fast African kid, made a big difference – Espanyol could not cope with his pace, even though he was extremely right footed. His cross led later to the final goal.
The next goal was the gem of the game. From an Espanyol corner, #6 led a fast break. Using a clever run from #9 that drew away the center back, #6 accelerated into the open space, cut inside, slipped untouched right through the center onto goal and very calmly passed beyond the goalie into the net. Incredible vision and composure.
Following a couple of late headed goals from Barca (who had a big height advantage late in the game after some subs) and one more from a good cross for Espanyol, game over: 5-2 Barca.
Of course, it’s difficult to draw conclusions from one game and from such young players. But they are only 3 years away from possible first team action. So here goes.
Near certainty: #6. best youth player I’ve ever seen. Would pay to watch him. Next Xavi.
Good chance. #8 and #9. Both a cut above everyone else on the field. #8 would have been dominant if #6 was not there. #9 just looked scary for any defender: big, very fast, good in the air, excellent touch and dribbling, rocket shot. What’s not to like?
Possibles. Both fullbacks played well within the system. Did not see much of them going forward, but both showed good defensive skills, excellent first touch. #17 (winger sub) reminded me of Wright-Phillips: small fast one-footed a bit erratic, but very dangerous. If he develops he could be very good.
I am going to see whether I can get to watch a training session for this team. And at least one more game.
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