Arnau Blanco: Guiding Light of the Cadet Generation That Dazzled at the MIC
Arnau Blanco: Guiding Light of the Cadet Generation That Dazzled at the MIC
Arnau Blanco, the coach of Barça’s Cadet A team, has shared with SPORT that “winning the MIC in this manner has been a beautiful experience.” In his debut season as the head of Cadet A, Arnau Blanco is enjoying a brilliant campaign.
The director of Barça’s youth football, José Ramon Alexanko, and his right-hand man, Toni Hernández, decided this summer to entrust greater responsibility to coaches who had previously served as assistant coaches.
Such was the case with the coach of Infantil A, Pere Olivé, and the head coach of Cadet A, Arnau Blanco. In both instances, the decision has proven to be a success. The Cadet A team shone brightly at the MIC, clinching the championship with a magnificent performance led by Arnau Blanco.
“Winning the MIC like this in the last minute has been a very beautiful experience,” expressed the Cadet A coach to SPORT just moments before Ebrima’s goal crowned them champions of the MIC in the U-16 category.
Ending the tournament in this manner left Arnau Blanco more than satisfied: “It’s incredible to win like this. We played well, created chances, dominated in the opponent’s half, and in the end, when you least expect it, that’s when it happens.”
Positive Evolution Blanco is one of those coaches who knows how to manage the group superbly and exploit the technical and tactical strengths of his players. The Cadet A coach is very pleased with his squad’s performance: “The team played very well, the boys who moved up from Cadet B did marvelously, both individually and collectively, and we have to take this away, although it’s logical that everyone wants to win.” Arnau Blanco praised the experience that the MIC provides for his players: “This tournament gives you valuable experience with so many days of living together. Over the years, they will remember this and that they won a final in Palamós with so many people watching. I’ve discussed this with Bojan, and he still remembers when he came to play in the MIC.”
While celebrating the MIC is a success, it should not overshadow the real objectives that the club expects from Arnau Blanco and the other coaches: “Everyone wants to win, but the goal is for everyone to grow, develop, and improve, and the context of the MIC helps with all of this.”
After conquering the MIC, Barça’s Cadet A team is on the verge of becoming league champions. After 23 matchdays, the Blaugranas lead the Honor Division with 60 points, 16 more than Girona and Espanyol.
Beyond the positive results, the work of Arnau Blanco and his coaching staff is remarkable, as players born in 2008, such as Guille, Toni Gistau, or Andrea Natali, are competing in the youth category. Additionally, Pol Bernabéu, Lorenzo Oertli, Pedro Rodríguez, Nil Vicens, and Sama regularly help strengthen a depleted Juvenil B team. The Cadet A team has not felt the absence of these key players in their exhibited gameplay or the results they have achieved.
