"We have the most important titles left and we will fight for them," said Xavi after Barça was eliminated this Wednesday in the Cup against Athletic (4-2). Also outside of the Spanish Super Cup, in a period of 10 days, the Youthful spirit is projected as one of the greatest supports for the Egarense for the remainder of the season. La Masía as a fundamental pillar.
That November 25, 2012, is far away, when Tito Vilanova's Barça lined up an eleven full of youth players to play against Levante, in the Ciutat de València: Valdés, Jordi Alba, Puyol, Piqué, Montoya, Cesc Fàbregas, Busquets, Xavi , Iniesta, Messi and Pedro. For those curious, the Blaugrana won that match 0-4 and it was one of the many victories that occurred in the famous 100-point league.
This historic feat in the recent history of the Blaugrana club is very difficult to repeat. Although Xavi thinks that he is cooking up “something important.” “This Barça has a lot of future whether I am the coach or not,” he stated at a press conference about the good performances of the younger players against Valverde's team and the importance they could have in the long term in the Barcelona entity.
Pau Cubarsí (17) and Héctor Fort (17) are good proof of this. The first is the last to join the list of youth players who have debuted under him. The second is the penultimate. The center-back did the same a week ago against Unionistas de Salamanca in the round of 16 of the Cup (1-3), while the full-back made his debut in the last match of the group stage of the Champions League at the home of Antwerp ( 3-2).
Both played this Wednesday against Athletic Club and left good feelings along with Lamine Yamal (16), whose goal against the lions momentarily turned the game around for the culés. Fort entered the field of play in the 23rd minute as a result of Balde's muscle injury; Cubarsí came out to replace Christensen in the 70th minute.
Xavi has also given Fermín López and Marc Guiu their debuts this season. Last October, the 18-year-old forward gave Barça the league victory against Athletic Club, after beating Unai Simón 23 seconds after entering the Montjuïc pitch.
Regarding the 2022-23 season, Héctor Bellerín -on his return to the Barça team-, Iñaki Peña, Marc Casadó, Chadi Riad, Ángel Alarcón, Aleix Garrido and Lamine Yamal were chosen by the Terrassa coach. The Esplugues de Llobregat winger is the youngest player in Barça's history to date to make his debut in the League.
Yamal achieved this feat in a duel against Betis on April 29, 2023, at just 15 years, 9 months and 16 days old. He left behind footballers like Vicenç Martínez (16 years, 9 months and five days), Ansu Fati (16 years, 9 months and 25 days), Bojan (just 17 years) or Gavi (17 years and 24 days).
Finally, the players who debuted with the first team during Xavi's first campaign as Barça coach were the following: Ilias Akhomach, Ferran Jutglà, Álvaro Sanz, Estanis Pedrola and Mika Mármol.
