🎙️ Pep Guardiola: “Barcelona has the best young generation since my time!”

In a striking public statement, legendary coach Pep Guardiola has offered a passionate yet pointed evaluation of FC Barcelona’s current project under Hansi Flick. With La Masia producing another golden generation, Guardiola believes the club is once again positioned to dominate European football — if they make the right decisions.

“Barcelona has the best young generation since my time!” Guardiola declared in a recent interview. “Yamal, Gavi, Pedri, Cubarsí — these are treasures to build a team around.”

He emphasized the exceptional quality of the club’s academy products. In particular, Lamine Yamal has emerged as a breakout star at just 17, while Gavi and Pedri have already established themselves in Spain’s national team. Cubarsí, the young center-back, has also drawn comparisons to a young Gerard Piqué.

But Pep didn’t stop at praise. He made it clear that talent alone isn’t enough.

“First, you need a leading center-back like Puyol,” Guardiola warned. “Martínez is excellent, but he needs an experienced partner — someone like Kimpembe, for example.”

According to the former Barcelona manager, a solid spine is fundamental. “A chaotic defense destroys all intelligent attacks,” he stressed, referencing defensive lapses in Barcelona’s recent high-stakes matches.

The second position of concern for Guardiola is left-back. “Balde is not enough,” he said frankly. “They need a full-back who combines defensive strength and attacking skill — like Guitan or Grimaldo.”

Guardiola didn’t hesitate to remind fans of past mistakes: “Haven’t you learned from Alba’s old errors?” he asked rhetorically. “You can’t rely only on attacking speed. Discipline and awareness are essential.”

The third issue? The forward line.

“A striker who plays behind Lewandowski — that’s the missing link,” Pep said. “Messi used to do that. Now, you need a character like Julián Álvarez — smart, fast, and presses like a beast!”

He pointed out that while Robert Lewandowski remains a goal threat, Barcelona needs someone to connect midfield creativity with finishing power. A young, dynamic forward in the mold of Álvarez would transform their attack.

Despite these concerns, Pep is clearly optimistic. “The youth are great,” he reiterated, “but big titles require a combination of experience and energy.”

He also cautioned against splashing cash on superstars: “The real secret? Don’t spend all the money on ready-made stars. Buy 2–3 strategic players, and keep giving minutes to La Masia talents.”

Drawing from his own time at the helm, Guardiola offered a blueprint for success: “That’s how we built our glories, and that’s how you’ll return to European titles.”

His final message was perhaps the most powerful: “The new Messi will not come by purchase. He will appear from the academy. Just be patient!”

As Guardiola’s comments circulate, they’re sparking both excitement and debate among Barcelona fans. With the club aiming to return to the pinnacle of European football, his advice could not have come at a more crucial moment.

Whether the Barcelona board listens is a story still unfolding — but one thing is certain: Pep’s heart still beats blaugrana.