The solution to Barcelona's problems are at home

After 15 years of success, Barcelona are about to have a second consecutive season without a trophy. An anomalous situation for many players, but not in the club’s history. There have been times like this before. The most recent was at the start of the 21st century. Barca had a remodelling after Figo left (now, Neymar), they had spent too much money on player not performing (Petit, Overmars / Coutinho, Dembele, Griezmann), and were economically weak. In that time, Barca knew how to set the basis for future success. The youth team was called upon and a Dutch coach (Louis van Gaal) did not tremble when it came to benching a veteran to pick a starlet. History is repeating itself.

“We have to continue on the same road as then, because the solution is at home, using the young players who are getting experience and will become the heart of the team. The same thing happened with Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Valdes…,” explained club sources. Those players have other names today. Araujo, Ansu Fati, Ilaix, Pedri, and others from the youth team who will also get their chances, Mingueza, Riqui.

Koeman is following Van Gaal’s policy, a man he learned from at Ajax. He knows it will be hard to win trophies but is busy constructing the new Barca.

In this process, the coach understands the key role of the veteran players, Busquets, Alba, Messi, Pique, to help. After the KO against PSG, the club’s big objective is not to throw in the towel in La Liga or the Copa del Rey, and above all seal qualification for the next Champions League. The economic state of the club means they have to rely on the youth team, while selling players like Griezmann, Coutinho and Dembele, to put some names down, won’t be a definitive solution because they are not amortised.

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