Does Hansi Flick Actually Trust Youth? | OneFootball

In his second season, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona is once again leading La Liga. Champions League positioning hasn’t gone entirely to plan, but a spot in the top eight is still very much in play. The average age of the squad on any given matchday remains practically juvenile, but there are some questions about how much Flick actually trusts young players. Does Flick truly trust La Masia products, or did he simply inherit a squad where playing young players is unavoidable? At a club defined by its La Masia identity and it’s currently economic reality, the answer isn’t black and white.

The Case For Flick Trusting Youth

Trust isn’t the word that needs defining, it’s youth. Two teenagers have played around 1600 minutes this season under Flick, with Lamine Yamal ranking third in total squad minutes and Pau Cubarsí sitting fourth. Flick has built attacking structures that depend on Lamine Yamal’s decision-making and ability to break down a defense. In year two, Lamine Yamal continues to be one of the most important players in the squad.

Similarly, Pau Cubarsí has been handed the keys to the back line far earlier than most centre-backs would be trusted. In the modern game where high-lines require perfection, the teenager has been given the time and patience to make mistakes on his path to becoming one of the most reliable defenders in world football.

Outside of Lamine Yamal and Cubarsí, Flick is also making sure to slowly reincorporate Marc Bernal. The teenager started Flick’s first three games in charge before his injury last season, and any lack of minutes probably says more about his recovery and willingness to be patient with him than any lack of faith that Flick might have for Bernal.

Then there’s Roony Bardghji. While his minutes have fluctuated, Flick has clearly identified him as a project worth bringing along. Bardghji’s usage suggests that Flick sees him a weapon for specific situations, either as a starter or from the bench. He can change a game with his ball carrying and directness, but inconsistency has forced Flick to pick and choose his opportunities.

The Gray Area: Who Counts as Youth?

Beyond the four regular teenagers receiving minutes, there is an argument that Flick is also trusting in young players that just aren’t seen as young players anymore.

Gerard Martín is in his second season in the squad, so does he count as youth development or should the 23-year-old be judged as a finished project? Flick has trusted him to re-familiarize himself to the centre-back spot, and with that there should be expected growing pains. Plus, judging his performances this season to last season show a marked improvement in a player that could still be years away from his peak.

Eric García is the other example of a player not considered youthful but still entering his prime. The 24-year-old who turns 25 in a few weeks is having a career season under Flick. He’s still relatively young in age, but Eric has played some major minutes in his career already, so he isn’t seen as a youthful player. Yet, the leap he’s taken this season is a clear sign of development and the trust that Flick has in him.

If any U-24 player is seen as still improving and not yet at their peak, Eric García, Pedri, Alejandro Balde, Joan García, Gerard Martín, Fermin López, Marc Casadó, Roony Bardghji, and Gavi, more than a third of the first team squad, could all be defined as youthful players that Flick is trusting.

The Case Against Flick Trusting Youth

For all the examples of trust, there are reasons to question Flick’s long-term commitment to youth pathways. With the exception of Gerard Martín and Roony Bardghji, every other player mentioned was brought into the first team dynamic by another manager.

The two La Masia products breaking in this season under Flick have been Jofre Torrents and Dro Fernández. Dro has found himself on the bench 22 times for the first team, playing 148 minutes over five matches. Jofre Torrents, meanwhile, has seen the bench 18 times, resulting in 110 minutes over four matches. For the 18-year-old left-back, over half of those minutes came in his Copa del Rey start against CD Gudalajara. Due to the rampant injuries throughout the squad, it has felt at times like these two could be trusted more, especially to give some much needed rest to the likes of Lamine Yamal or Balde.

Then there are the La Masia players who some Culers feel should be getting chances but are not in the first team dynamic, despite promising preseasons. Both Toni Fernández and Guille Fernández are no longer seeing the bench for the first team, instead replaced by Tommy Marqués, who has yet to see his debut. This leaves the Fernández in a bit of a limbo at the club, as the 17-year-olds are too good for the fourth division but are seen by Flick as not being ready to contribute to the first team.

For more on the most promising players coming out of La Masia, check out The Barcelona Podcast’s midseason La Masia review:

Positions Must Be Earned

Before their injuries, all of Óscar Gistau, Xavi Espart, Landry Farré, and Sama Nomoko were all making arguments to get a longer look by Flick. Then going down another level, 15-year-old attacking phenom Ebrima Tunkara turns 16 in March and questions will come fast as to what the long-term plan for him will be.

Giving minutes to too many young players is difficult, and it shouldn’t be forgotten that La Liga only allows four players registered with the youth teams on the field at the same time. That also limits Flick’s ability to go all-out on youth in certain circumstances. The other challenge is choosing young players over more established veterans and what that would mean for the locker room. La Masia players aren’t paid that much, so why would the club want Flick to compromise the market value of players like Dani Olmo or Andreas Christensen, two proven players, over unknowns that may never have the consistency to make it at the top?

The answer of whether Flick trusts youth may come down to which young players a fan might want to see getting first team minutes. Flick doesn’t just promote young players for the sake of using La Masia; he plays teenagers because they solve problems. For now, Flick’s message is clear. Youth is welcome, but they must earn their place.