Andoni Zubizarreta has brought Barcelona into the debate surrounding Real Madrid and their perceived reluctance to use their youth players.
Los Blancos have seen their Coach Jose Mourinho criticised in recent weeks for his reluctance to use members of the Castilla outfit, despite an injury crisis.
Mourinho hit back and suggested that youth team Coach Alberto Toril’s conflicting ideas were to blame, whilst President Florentino Perez yesterday promised that the club would be investing further in its youth.
Barca’s sporting director Zubizarreta was asked of the issue and what the difference is with his team.
“The difference is that we have a culture of playing them,” commented the former goalkeeper to reporters today.
“Barcelona have a ‘cantera culture’ and we dare to use them. We are a club that encourages that and it has given us very good results in recent years.
“It is an understanding of the game in a different way, with a different type of player.”
Zubizarreta was talking ahead of travelling out with the team to Scotland for their Wednesday fixture away to Celtic.
He was also asked once more of why the club replaced the departing Pep Guardiola with Tito Vilanova and whether or not the club’s record League start was anticipated.
“The basic concept is the idea of the team, the future and we believed that Tito was the person to carry that out. The decision was not made thinking that today the team would manage a record start, but that they would still remain competitive. Tito has put across his idea and the team is still functioning, that is essential, beyond the names that are directing it.
“It’s great, but we aren’t trying to get records at this stage of the season – what we want is to ensure we get to April still in the fight for titles.”
The director then looked ahead to matchday four of the Champions League group stages.
“They play fast and direct, with good reference points in attack. Their fans get behind them and push them, to beat them will require more effort than at Camp Nou.
“They are an experienced team with players very much aware of the history of the shirt they wear.
“We won with a last minute goal at the Camp Nou. It won’t be easy to win this week. They are a team whose style of play costs us a lot to come up against.”
