Despite his stint at FC Barcelona being only a few months old, there are many things that can be said about Hansi Flick. Of course, there is the attacking football, clinical finishing, revival of Raphinha, and general joy he has brought to the club.
However, one major aspect that the German coach has shown during his time here, which is quite rare for a foreign manager, is the immense trust that he has placed in La Masia. Xavi Hernandez did this to an extent but Flick has taken it to a new level.
Since pre-season, Hansi Flick has given debuts to so many subsidiary players – Marc Bernal, Sergi Dominguez, Gerard Martin, and Pau Victor to name a few. As per SPORT, in the 5-0 win against Young Boys last night, he gave a debut to 17-year-old Andres Cuenca, yet another promising defender from the academy. He replaced Inigo Martinez.
Cuenca has been seen in a few squad lists so far. He was also involved in the pre-season tour to the United States where he got minutes against both Manchester City and AC Milan. It would have been a proud moment for the left-footed teenager to make his debut for FC Barcelona.
Pau Cubarsi’s defensive partner through the ranks, Cuenca is something Barcelona don’t have in abundance – a left-footed dominant defender. With the exception of Inigo Martinez, no other center-back at the club is naturally that, although Cubarsi is equally good with both feet.
The report explains that he is a fast, powerful, and gifted defender with spectacular technique who captivates with his eye-catching style and effectiveness. He is very good at line-breaking passes, although we did not get a chance to see that last night.
Formerly of Sevilla, Cuenca has shot up through the ranks since making the move to Barcelona. He is said to have a special left foot due to his passing range and dribbling qualities and his debut is only a reward for all his hard work.
The 17-year-old will know that this is just the beginning of his professional career. He needs to buckle down and work hard to make himself indispensable, like Pau Cubarsi, and let’s wait and see how Cuenca develops in the months and years to come.