Surprise inside La Masia at Barça boss Setien's academy comments

Quique Setien's sincerity cannot be doubted in the series of interviews he has given this week, but his comments about Barcelona's academy have caught the attention. 

Aside from comments about individual players coming through, statements like "until now, they haven't convinced me" in reference to the club's youngsters have not sat well. Nor did the line: "What do people want? The academy (players to play) or to move forward?"

The comments haven't gone down well because there is a feeling there is a lot of talent and a little more support was expected. 

Barça coach Setien arrived with the tag of being someone who would give La Masia a chance. There was a lot of expectation after Ernesto Valverde. 

Inside Barça B and the academy, there's an agreement that you have to earn your place in the first team. There is no problem here and no one wants gifts. 

But Setien's words have created surprise. Because many players need him to show confidence in them to keep on improving, especially with such uncertainty in the future due to the financial losses of the coronavirus. 

The players coming through at the moment could have more protagonism than every next season. 

What is true is Barça B are having a great season and many players are shining in their own right. The style is recognisably Barça. Setien has see that in person. Just two days after being appointed he took in a B team match at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. That was his first and only reserve team game so far. 

Not all the players will make it at Camp Nou and the players no that but the fear is that the opportunities will evaporate and many players will be included in other players or sold off to make a small profit. 

In any case, they will keep on doing their part to try and convince Setien that there's a lot of very good, reliable players in La Masia still.