Guardiola's youngsters show Europe the Barca of the future

Dec 7, 2011, 11:00 GMT

Madrid - The Spanish media was full of praise onm Wednesday for the youngsters of European champions Barcelona, who destroyed Viktoria Plzen 4-0 in a one-sided Champions League match.

With Barca already qualified for the knockout rounds, coach Pep Guardiola rested almost all of his first-teamers in Tuesday's game in order to give Lionel Messi and company a well-earned rest ahead of Saturday's Clasico at league leaders Real Madrid.

A team of untried youngsters from the club's world-famous youth sections tore into Plzen right from the start, with the elegant short-passing game that has been instilled into them from the age of 10 in the club's junior teams.

Catalan daily Sport raved about the likes of playmaker Sergi Roberto - who scored the first goal - and winger Isaac Cuenca, who set up three of the four goals, and commented that 'the club's future signings are already in the house.'

Mundo Deportivo said that 'the future of this club is bright, given what we saw last night.'

Radio station RAC-1 said that 'all of Europe could see what kind of future this club has, and how well the youngsters have learned from the seniors.'

Even Madrid papers Marca and AS were full of praise for this 'Baby Barca.'

Most of the youngsters used on Tuesday by Guardiola will not be in the squad for Saturday's Clasico, though Cuenca might just snatch a place in the final 18.

Cuenca, 20, is a fast and thoughtful right-winger who has become increasingly important in Guardiola's plans this season.

He played in all of Saturday's game against Levante - which meant that Spain striker David Villa was kept on the bench - scored his second league goal in the match, and set up two of the other goals.

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