Made in Barça

Back in Barcelona, the fielding of eleven players developed at the club's youth academy in the 4-0 drubbing of Levante has been given more coverage than the win itself or the 11-point gap the Catalans have opened up over Real Madrid.
While Xavi, Piqué, Cesc and Jordi Alba have all come out to express their happiness, the up-and-coming youth players at La Masia are even more psyched, as it opens the door for them to make the step up to the first team in the future.
Barça's last four coaches – with Van Gaal and Vilanova sandwiching the tenures of Rijkaard and Guardiola – have all shown that the club's model and philosophy not only work, but are effective.
After Gerard Deulofeu hailed the achievement on social media, the heavyweights did not waste any time joining in after the match. "It's something to make all Barça fans proud. It proves that we are doing things the right way and our philosophy is the right one", said Piqué, visibly overjoyed.
Iniesta was equally buzzing – "it's something really special for the academy to play such a big role" – while Xavi was even more moved and shouted out to Van Gaal: "I'd like to send him a hug because he started it all. It [playing with 11 home-grown players] was his dream, he said it several times, and it's become reality".
Almost fifteen years have passed since Van Gaal gave Xavi and Puyol their debuts, and the club's commitment to its youth policy has only grown stronger. No matter that Piqué, Alba and Cesc rose to prominence elsewhere and had to be re-signed for big fees – they remain 'Azulgranas' through and through.