The numbers behind Barcelona’s youth revolution under Hansi Flick

Hansi Flick has been making waves during his first ten matches as head coach of FC Barcelona, demonstrating a clear commitment to the club’s youth academy amidst numerous challenges, including injuries and sanctions.

So far, Flick has handed debuts to four academy talents in the form of Marc Bernal, Sergi Dominguez, Gerard Martin, and most recently Andres Cuenca. The likes of Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and Marc Casado have established themselves as mainstays.

Meanwhile, the likes of Guille Fernandez, Toni Fernandez, Ander Astralaga, and Aron Yaakobishvili continue to train with the first team and feature in the squad lists.

The team’s evolution has been evident in recent squad selections, transitioning from an initial squad list featuring 11 homegrown players in a total of 22 against Valencia to a staggering 15 out of 23 in the recent clash with Getafe.

This trend mirrors the changes in the starting XI as well, where Flick began with just three homegrown players against Valencia and concluded the match against Osasuna with seven.

In the UEFA Champions League match against Young Boys last night, Flick started with five homegrown players, ultimately finishing with six after the debut of Cuenca.

The circumstances surrounding the team, notably the eight injuries they have faced, have led to a roster increasingly filled with homegrown talent.

The statistics are striking: the match against Valencia featured 50% of the squad from the academy, which increased to 60% against Young Boys, with even higher percentages seen in matches against Getafe and Osasuna.

Percentage of youth players in squad lists (Highest to lowest):

Getafe: 15 of 23 (65.21%) Osasuna: 15 of 23 (65.21%) Villarreal: 14 of 22 (63.63%) Monaco: 14 of 23 (60%) Young Boys: 14 of 23 (60%) Athletic: 14 of 23 (60%) Rayo Vallecano: 13 of 22 (59%) Valladolid: 12 of 21 (57%) Girona: 12 of 21 (57%) Valencia: 11 of 22 (50%)

The increasing reliance on academy players is not limited to just squad selection; it extends to the starting eleven.

Flick’s strategy has seen him fielding multiple youth players from the outset, with variations in how many remained on the pitch by the end of the matches.

Homegrown players at the start and ending of matches:

Valencia: Started with 5, finished with 3 Athletic: Started with 4, finished with 3 Rayo Vallecano: Started with 4, finished with 4 Valladolid: Started with 5, finished with 4 Girona: Started with 5, finished with 5 Monaco: Started with 5, finished with 5 Villarreal: Started with 4, finished with 7 Getafe: Started with 6, finished with 6 Osasuna: Started with 5, finished with 7 Young Boys: Started with 5, finished with 6

Flick’s dedication to promoting youth players amidst adversity showcases his commitment to Barcelona’s long-standing tradition of nurturing talent from within their ranks.

Source: Mundo Deportivo