Quick context: After the 2026 World Cup, several English clubs (Man City, Chelsea) are implementing a training model based on the "positional method" that La Masía has been using since 2023. It's not a rumor: City's sporting director, Txiki Begiristain, confirmed two weeks ago that they have signed two coaches from Barça's youth team.
Guys, I've been digging into this for a few days because I love how Spain has revolutionized grassroots football. It's not just that the national team wins, it's that70% of the starting players in the 2026 World Cup final came from Spanish academies (Barça, Real Madrid, Athletic, Valencia). And the method they now use at La Masía is being copied even in the Premier League.
Here are the data I got from a federation report and a talk by a coach from the youth A team:
Key aspect | La Masía (2023-2026) | Traditional English academies |
|---|---|---|
Weekly position-based training sessions | 5 out of 6 | 2 out of 6 |
Use of individual video analysis | Yes, weekly | Yes, monthly |
Ratio of players reaching the first team (ages 18-21) | 34% | 12% |
Average age of debut in first division | 18.2 years | 20.1 years |
Investment in sports psychology (€/player/year) | 1.200€ | 400€ |
The key is not just technical, it's that they teach them to read the game from age 12. For example, instead of doing generic rondos, they work on real match situations with space and time limitations. And on top of that, they record everything with AI to correct movements.
But careful, not everything is gold:
The risk of cognitive overload: Some sports psychologists warn that so much analytical demands can burn out young players. Last year, 15% of Barça's cadets asked to quit football due to stress. It's not a minor issue.
And now comes the debate I want to pose: Is modern football turning young players into soulless robots? On one hand, watching Lamine Yamal or Cubarsí play with that tactical maturity is amazing. But on the other hand, aren't we losing street players, the ones who improvise?
Example: at the City youth academy they have already started banning matches in open spaces without defined tactics. Everything is "game pattern". Can you imagine a footballer like Raúl or Iniesta coming out of there? They grew up on the street, not in a laboratory.
My opinion: I think it's awesome that Spain is exporting method. But I believe there should be room for raw talent. The perfect mix is what Athletic has: disciplined youth academy but with creative freedom in the youth teams.
And to close, I leave you with the stat that caught my attention the most: 82% of young players who go through the positional method at La Masía improve their performance in official matches in less than 6 months. Science is winning, but...
What do you prefer, a robotized but effective youth academy or natural talent without so much corset? I'm reading you! 🔥🇪🇸
(The first photo is of the positional training at the Ciutat Esportiva, the second is a graph of the evolution of youth players in La Liga, and the third is the new gym with touchscreens that they have put in La Masía)
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