"Isn't something new, it's been happening forever" - Lionel Messi heaps praise on 'spectacular' Barcelona youngsters under Hansi Flick

Lionel Messi recently showered praise on Barcelona's youngsters for their impressive performances under Hansi Flick this season. The Catalan giants have won 14 out of 17 games across competitions in the current campaign.

Barcelona have been in exceptional form under Hansi Flick this season and sit atop the LaLiga table with 33 points from 13 games. They notably beat Bayern Munich 4-1 in the UEFA Champions League. The Blaugrana also won 4-0 over arch-rivals Real Madrid after three consecutive Clasico losses last season.

Flick's side has been dominated by multiple academy graduates, including Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Casado and Alejandro Balde. The La Masia youngsters have formed the backbone of the team, becoming key to their success.

In a recent interview via Catalunya Radio, Lionel Messi heaped praise on the youngsters' performances under Hansi Flick. He said (via All About Argentina):

"I see Flick's Barcelona as spectacular, and it doesn’t surprise me because this isn’t something new it’s been happening forever, or at least since I arrived at Barca at 13 years old. I think it’s spectacular that the young players have been getting opportunities over the past couple of years."

He added:

"When they’re given opportunities and confidence, they respond like this because they know the club better than anyone, and they’ve been accustomed to playing this way since they were kids. When they’re supported, these things happen, just like they did in the past."

Lionel Messi hails from Barca's famed academy and is often considered the greatest Blaugrana legend of all time. He spent 17 years (2004-2021) with his boyhood side, recording 672 goals and 303 assists in 778 outings across competitions. Messi won 35 titles with the club, including four UEFA Champions League titles, 10 LaLiga titles and seven Copas Del Rey.

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"It means a lot to us" - Barcelona coach Hansi Flick responds to Lionel Messi's comments on the club's performances this season

Hansi Flick - Source: Getty

In a pre-match press conference ahead of Barcelona's LaLiga clash against Celta (November 24), coach Hansi Flick responded to Lionel Messi's comments about the club's recent form. He said (via Barca's official X account):

"It's an honor that Lionel Messi, the greatest player of all time, says good things about Barça. We love that he follows the team. It means a lot to us that he holds the youngsters in the squad in such high regard."

Hansi Flick has been instrumental in paving way for youngsters to perform for Barca this season. Under his guidance, academy prodigy Marc Bernal and Marc Casado made their first-team debuts.

Teenage star Lamine Yamal has also been in exceptional form under the German tactician, with six goals and eight assists in 16 outings across competitions.