Oubina: Easier for youth today

Travelling to Valencia this weekend, Borja Oubina reminisces of making his Celta Vigo debut at Mestalla and suggests that youth players have it easier today.

The 30-year-old broke on to the first-team scene with his hometown club as a 21-year-old, being handed his debut in October 2003 by then Coach Miguel Angel Lotina, when Celta were playing away to Valencia.

Ahead of visiting Los Che this weekend, the captain reflected on how it felt almost a decade ago and on why he believes youth players at the club today have things a lot easier in following in his footsteps.

“My debut was one of the best days of my life,” he told reporters today.

“Passing from the subsidiary to the first team is nowadays much easier, but back then it was very complicated and even more so at Celta.

“It took me a long time training with the first time and I didn’t see that the opportunity would ever come, so the debut was great.

“Now, it is easier for youth players to pass to the first team. Before, in making the climb the demand was that you played for the B team, but now the club’s policy is to first look at what they have at home.

“In addition to the financial situation in the sport, the success of Spanish football is helping clubs to then look to their own youth teams.”

The Galicians drew with Valencia on that day Oubina made his debut, but have since lost on their last two visits to Mestalla.

“I remember the last time we visited them we lost be one goal to nil, but deserved more because we played well. Anyway, now we will see a different Valencia and Celta,” promised the defensive midfielder.

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