Barcelona coordinator talks Cubarsi, Yamal, Ansu, Torre – ‘Not a sprint but a marathon’

A former academy product of Barcelona, Bojan Krkic returned to his boyhood club last summer.

However, this time around, he assumed a role quite different from his past experiences.

As the coordinator of Barcelona’s football team, Bojan Krkic now oversees the management of loaned players, ensuring their development and progress align with the club’s standards.

At the same time, his duties also entail helping youngsters go through a smooth transition from youth teams to Barça Atletic and the first-team setup.

In a recent interview via Mundo Deportivo, Bojan touched upon various topics related to Barcelona’s young talents.

Supporting their every step

Highlighting that Barcelona youngsters Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi are still merely kids, Bojan emphasized that they must be nurtured and supported off the field.

“The important thing is to accompany them all. On the field, they are men because of the level they are showing, but off it, they are boys.

“It is important to have trustworthy people around you. I’m there for that, so that they see me as one more, that I can help,” he argued.

Cubarsi has been a revelation. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The instance of Pedri was cited, who played an enormous number of games in his European debut season and is now facing the consequences of being overplayed with constant injuries.

The 33-year-old stressed that sustainability must be prioritized and a balance must be struck, so these cases do not repeat.

“Together we have evolved in how to evolve these processes but we must improve. We want to see them every day, see the magic they have. This is not a sprint but a marathon, traveling for as long as possible. We must find this balance,” he stated.

Using Fati’s journey as an example

When asked what he thinks about the labels youngsters receive, such as being heralded as the new Messi or the new Puyol, Bojan answered that the players should be liberated to write their own legacy.

Using Fati’s case as an example, who broke onto the scene at merely 16 years of age and was also handed Lionel Messi’s number 10 jersey, Bojan defended the youngster, especially after the recent statements from De Zerbi demanding more from him.

“Ansu is still a young player, it seems like he has been around for twenty years but he is young. He has suffered significant injuries, has played in the first team, still belongs to the club and is playing in the Premier League.

Ansu has struggled at Brighton. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

“I give him a lot of credit. You have to be calm, you have to accompany him and help him, make sure he is well, minimise possible injuries.

“Now he is in a club where a coach, no matter how many statements he makes, knows what player Ansu is, he knows what he can give him,” he stated.

Update on the loanees

Primarily responsible for keeping track of the players sent out on loan, Bojan is well aware of the progress the loanees are making.

He did not provide an in-depth look into each player’s situation but claimed the evaluation would eventually be presented.

“Everyone has their own situation. Some more, some less. This is not over yet. Performance is being monitored on a monthly basis; there are two months left. We have to wait until the end for the evaluation,” he remarked.

Talking about Pablo Torre, who was loaned out to Girona, he said: “Pablo is in a club on a winning and solid team. What I know is that they are happy with his attitude, he is young, he has to grow, and he is in the process.”