- The former Blackburn Rovers striker reveals what it's like to be taught at Barcelona's famed academy, where he played alongside the likes of Thiago Alcantara and Gerard Deulofeu
The 'Barcelona DNA' is inherited by students of the game at the club's La Masia academy from a very early age and is the key to the club's phenomenal success, according to former youth player Ruben Rochina.
The 24-year-old spent his youth career at the Catalan club, playing three seasons playing for the 'B' team before moving to English side Blackburn Rovers in 2011, only to head back to Spain to join La Liga outfit Granada in 2014.
And Rochina believes the methods taught at Barca's academy ensure the youngsters are well-prepared for the playing style expected in the first team, which is evidenced by the high number of youth team graduates who have broken through in recent years.
"They work it very well. When you are a child in the academy the work is always the same and they look for the same things as in the first team.
"I think that they prove this work when youngsters reach the first team. The 'Barca DNA' gets directly into you. They teach you some playing issues and features and you prove it when you reach the first team."
The forward played in the same youth side as a number of players who have since gone on to enjoy successful senior careers at the biggest clubs in Europe - including Thiago Alcantara of Bayern Munich and Gerard Deulofeu of Everton - which is something that doesn't come as much of a surprise to Rochina.
"That is why we were third [in the second division with Barca 'B']. They all are playing in maximum competition level and in important sides. That proves the kind of players we had in that time."
The Spaniard has had experience playing in both English and Spanish, and while he believes their respective top flights are the two best leagues in the world, he confesses that he prefers plying his trade in his homeland rather than in the Premier League.
"They are two very different leagues and each one has its own good & bad things. They are the two best leagues in the world and it is difficult to choose just one of them. I play in Spain, I am Spanish... I may say the Spanish one if I had to." Rochina believes his old club Barcelona have the quality to go a step further than last season by winning five trophies in one campaign, having already bagged the Uefa Super Cup and the Fifa Club World Cup.
"Obviously it is very difficult to win everything once again even if you are the favourite, as anything can happen in football. But they are proving such a high level and it is very tough to compete against them if they have a good day."
While Rochina is less optimistic when it comes to his country's chances of defending their European Championship crown in France this summer, he still sees them as one of the main contenders for the title and is holding out hope for a remarkable third successive Euro triumph.
"As a national team I think they are still one the main favourites. It may not be their best moment in the last years, but I think they will try to reach the level they proved and they will be competitive. Let's hope so."
The 'Barcelona DNA' is inherited by students of the game at the club's La Masia academy from a very early age and is the key to the club's phenomenal success, according to former youth player Ruben Rochina.
The 24-year-old spent his youth career at the Catalan club, playing three seasons playing for the 'B' team before moving to English side Blackburn Rovers in 2011, only to head back to Spain to join La Liga outfit Granada in 2014.
"They work it very well. When you are a child in the academy the work is always the same and they look for the same things as in the first team.
"I think that they prove this work when youngsters reach the first team. The 'Barca DNA' gets directly into you. They teach you some playing issues and features and you prove it when you reach the first team."
The forward played in the same youth side as a number of players who have since gone on to enjoy successful senior careers at the biggest clubs in Europe - including Thiago Alcantara of Bayern Munich and Gerard Deulofeu of Everton - which is something that doesn't come as much of a surprise to Rochina.
"That is why we were third [in the second division with Barca 'B']. They all are playing in maximum competition level and in important sides. That proves the kind of players we had in that time."
The Spaniard has had experience playing in both English and Spanish, and while he believes their respective top flights are the two best leagues in the world, he confesses that he prefers plying his trade in his homeland rather than in the Premier League.
"They are two very different leagues and each one has its own good & bad things. They are the two best leagues in the world and it is difficult to choose just one of them. I play in Spain, I am Spanish... I may say the Spanish one if I had to." Rochina believes his old club Barcelona have the quality to go a step further than last season by winning five trophies in one campaign, having already bagged the Uefa Super Cup and the Fifa Club World Cup.
"Obviously it is very difficult to win everything once again even if you are the favourite, as anything can happen in football. But they are proving such a high level and it is very tough to compete against them if they have a good day."
While Rochina is less optimistic when it comes to his country's chances of defending their European Championship crown in France this summer, he still sees them as one of the main contenders for the title and is holding out hope for a remarkable third successive Euro triumph.
"As a national team I think they are still one the main favourites. It may not be their best moment in the last years, but I think they will try to reach the level they proved and they will be competitive. Let's hope so."
No comments:
Post a Comment