If Barcelona is a splendid football temple.

Then La Masia is a thorny path of practice leading to the temple.

Today Chang Ming is particularly aware of this.

When he first entered La Masia's youth training base, he didn't feel strongly about it.

From the outside, it looks like an ordinary farm, nothing special.

When he saw the green field at this time, Chang Ming felt like a ball of fire suddenly burning inside his body!

Get excited!

On the training ground, countless young players are running on the court.

Dribbling, breaking through, passing, shooting.

Do it in one go, with one heart and one mind.

Everyone's face shows their desire for football and their desire for the future.

Rexach and Chang Ming walked and chatted inside the stadium.

"La Masia Football School was founded in 1979.

“The stadium at that time was very crude, with artificial turf, and Barcelona’s four age groups used this crowded training space.

"Although the conditions at La Masia are simple, the Dutchman Cruyff brought the most advanced football concepts in the world.

“In 1989, under the personal auspices of then head coach Cruyff, FC Barcelona established the “La Masia” youth training school.

"In the past nearly thirty years, seven generations and a total of 503 players have come out of La Masia.

"There are many superstars like Messi, Xavi and Iniesta.

“The essence of the La Masia training camp is not just to produce outstanding young players, it also shoulders the task of educating young people.

“Among the many football youth camps in the world, this feature of La Masia is almost unique.

"Barcelona's coaches treat children more like nuns giving alms in a convent.

“Here, the children eat family-style food, complete cultural studies as if they were urged by their parents, and are instilled with family-style norms.

"Here, when a kid has to leave training camp for some reason and cannot continue training, it is often his competitors who cry."

Listening to Rexach's detailed introduction, Chang Ming was amazed: "It's such an incredible thing to see the tears of competitors."

In front of us was the Barcelona youth team, with only seven or eight-year-old kids playing decent football.

In passing, controlling and shooting, you can find the shadow of Barcelona's first team star.

He released the shovel fiercely and stood up strongly to chase after him. This toughness and tenacity made Chang Ming sigh.

In domestic youth training bases, teenagers do not have this kind of intensity of confrontation.

Chinese football has lagged far behind from the youth training level...

Moreover, if this level of ferocious tackles were played in China, there would definitely be a fight - I'm talking about the parents on the sidelines.

Walking around the sidelines and crossing the tunnel, Rexach entered the youth team pitch.

"La Masia has many levels of echelons.

"Preschool team, kindergarten team, children's team, youth team, youth team (apprentice team), youth team...

"From the infant reserve team in the 6 to 7-year-old range, to the youth team under 20 years old, there are more than ten echelons, spanning several generations of players.

“And the ones who really get through are the four major echelons of La Masia.

"Youth A team under 20 years old, youth team B for 16-18 years old. Apprentice team A for 15-16 years old, and apprentice B team for 14-15 years old.

"These four teams can already participate in the youth league and are the top priority for training.

"If I can stand out from here, I will be promoted to the Barcelona B team and officially participate in the Spanish low-level professional league.

"If I go one step further, I can be promoted to the Barcelona first team and become a glorious first-team official player."

Moving forward, bypassing all levels of La Masia's echelons, Rexach led Chang Ming up a hill.

This is the venue where the Barcelona youth team plays, called the Estadio Chatelet.

Surrounded by green trees, it is very quiet.

But what really surprised Chang Ming was the distance.

Climbing high and looking into the distance, Rexach pointed forward and continued the introduction.

"In front of this youth team stadium is the mini stadium where Barcelona B team plays.

"In front of the mini-stadium is the Camp Nou - that's what Barcelona is all about.

“Countless football teenagers are training at La Masia, looking at the mini pitch and the Camp Nou.

“From the Chatelet Stadium, to the mini stadium, and then to the Camp Nou stadium, there is a Y-shaped bridge connecting it.

"We all call him Bridge of Hope.

"Countless La Masia football teenagers dream of crossing the Bridge of Hope, heading to Camp Nou, fighting for Barcelona, ​​and fighting for their dreams!"

Rexach's voice is full of passion and appeal, unlike an old man in his 60s.

Standing beside the Chatelet Stadium, looking at Camp Nou in the distance, Chang Ming's eyes were firm.

One day, I will cross the Bridge of Hope and stand at Camp Nou!

It won't be long!

After walking around La Masia, Rexach didn't find his target, so he made a phone call.

"Migli, aren't you in La Masia?"

"Sir, I'm at the first-team training ground. Josep plans to inspect a few youth team players, so I'm coming over."

"Not bad, which boys are so lucky?"

"Pedro, Bojan and Santos. Maybe these talents can cross the bridge of hope in the new season."

"I also have a new genius here that I want to introduce to you."

"Okay, you're welcome at any time. The one you sir like must be a genius."

"Okay, I'll go over now."

Rexach hung up the phone and said to Chang Ming with a smile: "Let's go, I'll take you to meet the new boss."

"Head coach of the youth team?"

"Um."

La Masia is a long way from the first team training ground.

But the distance between the two venues is very close.

After just ten minutes of walking, Chang Ming felt that the world had changed again.

If La Masia is a symbol of hopes and dreams.

Then the first team training base next to Camp Nou is full of the blood of fighting and hard work.

Bigger venue, richer equipment.

More fierce confrontation, more cruel competition.

The coaching staff on the side of the court was giving instructions loudly, and the players treated every training session as if it were an official game and took it seriously.

There are dozens of players in the first team, all of whom are world-class talented players.

But even so, they still have to work hard to get 11 starting spots and fight for a chance to step into the Nou Camp.

If you sail against the current, you will retreat if you don't advance.

If you perform poorly, you will not only miss out on the starting position, but you may also lose the opportunity to train on this field.

At the B-team training ground not far away, dozens of talented substitutes may take their place at any time.

Just like today, if three talented players from the youth team come to the first team, it means that some first team players will drop to the B team.

This is the competition between the world's top clubs.

In order to continue to ensure the strongest strength in the world, competition is so cruel!

(ps:

On October 20, 2011, the reconstruction of the new La Masia youth training camp was completed, and now Chang Ming joins the old La Masia.

Therefore, many descriptions are very different from the New La Masia that everyone knows, so I would like to explain here.
Chapter completed!