La Masia coach talks Puig, Messi, Araujo, Collado, Barça DNA

For many fans out there, Garcia Pimienta resembles a coach worthy of one day taking over the first team. Of course, for the moment, he’s doing his best to develop the youngsters in the B squad and ensure they reach for the stars one day in the future.

But Pimienta himself knows what kind of players Barcelona need and also what it takes for them to break out of their shell. We keep talking about the Barça DNA and to the B team coach, this has special meaning.

When talking to Cadena Ser, Pimienta discussed this in detail, saying: “We are talking about Barça DNA, but inside the DNA you have to be a winner and competitive. The club aspires to win everything. If inside your DNA you do not have to be a winner, you cannot play here.”

Naturally, this means only the best of the best and the ones who are willing to sacrifice a lot to get to the top can play at the Camp Nou. Because Barcelona need players who are quick on their feet but also quick in their minds as well.

Here’s how Pimienta described it: “The Barça DNA is a different way of understanding football: that they understand the game, that they use both legs, that they position themselves well, that they think faster than others and that before receiving they already know what to do.”

Apart from that, the B coach also talked extensively about some of the players in the senior team. For instance, he believes Riqui Puig is someone Ronald Koeman should trust a lot more. When given the opportunity, the young midfielder will surely impress.

And speaking of players with the right DNA, Riqui is surely one of them, as Pimienta suggested: “When Riqui Puig comes in to play he does it well. Previously he worked a lot with me to fulfill his dream of playing for Barça’s first team. He is young, but he’s made to play for Barça.”

Of course, he was also asked about Lionel Messi and the Argentine’s future. But the truth is, no one knows what’s inside Leo’s head apart from himself. Whatever happens, however, and whatever he decides, he has earned the right to do so.

It would be a shame if he left because Barcelona will always be his home but if he wants to, we have to respect his decision. Pimienta added: “I don’t know if Messi will continue, I hope he will. I can’t imagine a Barça without him, he has done his entire career here, he has earned the right to decide what he wants to do, but I hope he ends his career with us.”

Apart from that, he also discussed Ronald Araujo and Alex Collado, two of Barcelona’s great young talents. Both could have a big career at the club in the future and both have what it takes to make it. In Collado’s case, Pimienta claims the young winger is right at home at the Camp Nou and this is where he should be.

“We are working with him. He had offers that did not convince him. I talked to him that we had to work hard to make him a first-team player. Surely the coach of the first team has his eye on him. For me, he is made to make a place for himself there,” said the Barcelona B team coach.

Pimienta also praised Araujo’s improvement, highlighting how the young centre-back developed into an important first-team player. In the beginning, there were some issues but he worked hard to overcome them.

“Araujo is a player who wanted to learn. In the beginning, he had problems with the ball on his feet, and we did a great job with him. Now he is an important player for the Barça’s first team.”