Why is Chelsea's season suddenly falling apart?!

Culture & Clobber Axis: Jude's new look, gold Zidane Preds & more

Welcome to Amad Diallo's world 

Nunez CAN score goals! Huge late drama as Liverpool march on

Madrid's biggest problem? They've still not replaced Kroos

Editors' Picks

Endrick dedicates goals to team-mate that 'never praises me'

'Who does he think he is?' - Keane slams 'rubbish' Stewart

Zlatan offers brutal response to Ronaldo’s Ligue 1 criticism

PSG complete €70m Kvaratskhelia signing as Napoli eye Rashford

'League makes it possible' - Big call for CR7 in 1000-goal bid

What Haaland's 10-year mega deal means for City - and football

Unforgivable! Odegaard flops as Gunners suffer crushing title blow

Transfers LIVE: Man Utd set to be snubbed by key target Mendes

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="match-schedule">{"type":"match-schedule","data":{"channelId":"92686d1e-5985-40e1-80f3-6f5a54f55b39","competitionId":"34pl8szyvrbwcmfkuocjm3r6t"}}</script><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Szczesny joined Barca on a free transfer</li><li>Played for Arsenal back in 2009</li><li>Lamine Yamal was just two years old at the time</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

'It's strange!' - Wojciech Szczesny reveals concern that Lamine Yamal and Barcelona youngsters won't remember his Arsenal spell

Champions League

Benfica

Barcelona

<p>Szczesny has revealed that he doesn't expect the likes of Lamine Yamal and Barca's younger players to remember the fact that he'd even played for Arsenal. With the Catalan club's starting line-up in the league averaging just 23.8 years old, Hansi Flick has been capitalising on Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, something which the club's coaches of the past five years have had to do frequently due to financial issues at the club. Indeed, Yamal would've only been two years old when Szczesny made his Gunners debut in September 2009.</p><p></p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Barcelona have seen many youngsters come and go down the years, but this season seems different. Teenagers, such as centre-backs Sergi Dominguez and Pau Cubarsi and, of course, Lamine Yamal are starting regularly for the Spanish giants, alongside the likes of Marc Casado and Alejandro Balde.</p><p>And they aren't just there to make up the numbers. Ten games into the Liga season, Barca are comfortably sitting on top of the pile, with nine wins and just one defeat. Szczesny, meanwhile, who came out of retirement to join Barca, fears some of the younger players won't remember his past achievements as a goalkeeper.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Szczesny, who was brought in to help fill the void left by an injury to No.1 goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, has explained that having so many young players in the squad takes some getting used to.</p><p>He said: "I have to tell you, it's strange! Some of these players probably haven't seen me playing for Arsenal, and I feel like that wasn't a long time ago! But it is a big point of why I decided to come because I think I can give something to this team."</p>

WHAT SZCZESNY SAID

<p>Speaking to reporters, Pedri added on the subject of Barca's young squad: "It's very important [to develop young talent]. The confidence that the coach gives to all the young players who are coming up, they give it back with good play. This allows them to gain confidence and have more freedom to dare to try out things."</p>

WHAT PEDRI SAID

<p>In their last La Liga game, a 5-1 win over Sevilla, Barcelona started seven La Masia products. Bringing Gavi off the bench, they played eight in total. Talk about the youngster making an impact.</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Barcelona's young prodigies face their toughest task yet in the 2024-25 campaign, as they <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/el-clasico-combined-xi-no-kylian-mbappe-jude-bellingham-real-madrid-barcelona/bltb7bd2c1852ebe89b" target="_blank">face off against Clasico rivals Real Madrid on Saturday</a>. For some of the youth graduates, it will be their first ever experience of Spain's premier rivalry, but going off their performances so far this season, they look more than capable of handling it.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA AND THEIR YOUNGSTERS?

'It's strange!' - Wojciech Szczesny reveals concern that Lamine Yamal and Barcelona youngsters won't remember his Arsenal spell | Goal.com

Wojciech Szczesny has revealed what it is like to be a more senior member in Hansi Flick&apos;s youthful Barcelona squad.

Next Match