What do young players learn at Barça that helps them achieve such success?
“At the Barça Academy, players are taught that they have to win.”
– Francesc “Tito” Vilanova
Barça instills a competitive mindset in its players from an early age. When they step onto the field, their objective is to win. This mentality helps them give their best under pressure.
“The most important thing is that everyone here in Barcelona knows that only victory counts. It is part of their education.”
– Pep Guardiola
“I always had the will to fight. I hated losing.”
– Leo Messi
“I have hated losing since I was a child. It hurts. I hate it.”
– Thierry Henry
Competitiveness is a quality shared by elite athletes, but accepting defeat, congratulating opponents, and retaining self-belief are equally important. Those who learn to compete also learn both how to win and how to respond to a loss.
“To learn how to compete, you must know the taste of failure.”
– Luis Enrique
Every year, young players from around the world join the Barça Academy. Differences in language or background do not matter; perseverance and the desire to improve do. Many talented players never fulfill their potential. Albert Puig compares the situation to Formula 1: even the best car will not win if the driver does not accelerate. Perseverance in training and a willingness to seize every opportunity are essential. Carles Puyol was not regarded as a technical genius, but his character, courage, and fitness impressed the coaches.
Imagine if Messi had listened to the older, bigger players who told him that he would never succeed. He would have wasted his talent. Consider another example: in 1976, coach Laureano Ruiz noticed a boy who had remained behind after a trial and was kicking a ball against a wall. Ruiz asked about him, but the academy staff said that the boy had no potential. That boy was Albert Ferrer, who later played at right-back for Barcelona and Spain in the 1990s. He did everything that he could to become a footballer and fulfilled his dream. A Barça coach believed in him because he recognized his determination. FC Barcelona does not write players off solely because of their height or current form. When coaches see persistence, determination, and team spirit, they offer support.
Unfortunately, not every club follows this approach. Young players often hear negative and demotivating comments. You still have a choice: listen to those voices and abandon your dream, or follow the example of the best players and continue improving until you become the best version of yourself.
“More people make it into Barça’s first team through hard work than through natural talent.”
– Andrés Iniesta
This article is based on the book “La fuerza de un sueño: Los caminos del éxito” by Albert Puig.
