If Xavi says that he has been in the position of coach for longer than he has left to sit on the bench, at Barcelona any time in the future is better than the present. After losing two titles in less than two weeks, the coach seems stubborn in every appearance to sing a long goodbye despite the fact that the board insists that he not throw in the towel because he is the pilot who guides the new era. “They tell me that I have total confidence and to forget not to continue. That the important thing is the project and things are going well”, he revealed. This project is the reconstruction of the team to return Barça to the top. In this sense, the emergence of the 2006 and 2007 generation is a blessing. “The people at home are more prepared than those who come from outside. I try to make them even less afraid”, he explains about the management of the youth players.

In Wednesday’s Cup match in San Mamés, Lamine Yamal, Héctor Fort, Cubarsí and Marc Guiu played prominently. The match can go down in history as Betis-Barça did on October 7, 1995 at the Quinta del Mini. Roger, Toni Velamazán and Moreno played as starters that day – the first two scored – plus Celades and De la Peña, who also scored. There is one detail that defines the current moment, however; Cruyff’s team won 1-5, and Xavi’s was eliminated (4-2 in extra time). “It is the beginning of something important. I see a batch to consolidate”, says the technician. Three of them had not been born when the club won the Champions League in 2006. Guiu, the oldest, was four months old.

LAMINE YAMALE Benjamin is the jewel of the group. Xavi made his debut at the age of 15 and this season, after a great Gamper, he is one more member of the first team with 29 games and almost 1,500 minutes. Raised in the neighborhood of Rocafonda (Mataró), the left-back has jumped several steps with his football, to the point where he is already an absolute international. He has scored in the League, the Super Cup and the Cup, and teammates are looking for him. He has already been at his best against Betis and at San Mamés, where he was able to avoid extra time. “It says a lot about him that he feels responsible for the team when he is not. It was about to decide the game. You have to respect him and praise him for what he is doing”, defends Xavi.

Having HÉCTOR in front of Nico and Iñaki Williams is torture for any Primera defense. Fort, from Barcelona de les Corts, important to the subsidiary despite being a youth, endured the type in the duels. And that he played as a left back (like Barbastre, where he gave an assist) when he is a right back (that’s where he played in Antwerp). “It was exceptional. Héctor can play on the left, right and central. He sees the pass well and does not lose the ball. Physically strong, he is a complete player”, defines the coach.

PAU Natural de l’Estanyol (Gironès), has been one of the treasures of the Masia since he arrived there in 2018. He is a center with an imposing physique (1.84 meters), something that was missing in Bartra or Muniesa. He has just turned 17 and has the personality to not flinch at any challenge, not even with the ball at his feet. “He played almost all the balls forward. The second goal against Betis comes from him looking for Frenkie”, emphasizes the Egaren.

MARCÉ is the only adult, since January 4. Forward finisher, with the goal between his eyebrows, needs half a meter to edge the goal. He showed it in his debut against Athletic in the League (1-0) and almost saved a point in Antwerp (3-2). He had an opportunity in Salamanca and another in San Mamés because in the area he moves in an incredible way, partly because of his body. His idyll with the goal made Xavi prefer him to Vitor Roque. “It was a tactical decision”, confirms the coach.

FERMÍN It was the discovery of the pre-season. The interior of Huelva, small, became big in Linares, where he was on loan last season. He is not from the same generation – but from that of Balde, Marc Casadó or Álex Valle – but Xavi saw him and fell in love with his desire and his shot. In the center of the field, an organizer like Pau Prim (February 2006) is expected, who already played in the friendlies against Vissel Kobe and America.