Las Palmas coach Garcia Pimienta heaps praises on Barcelona duo | OneFootball

Garcia Pimienta is a well-known name in Barcelona. The Spanish tactician was a part of the Catalan family not too long ago, and only left after Joan Laporta decided to questionably sack him in 2021.

Since moving to Las Palmas in January 2022, the manager has made a tangible difference in the Canary Island-based side’s performances and results in La Liga.

Las Palmas are now one of the league’s most solid defensive units and dynamic sides in possession, and Pimienta is the mastermind behind their rise.

Impressed by the youngsters

As a coach who has handled the Barcelona youth squad at multiple levels and the Barça Athletic side for three seasons, Pimienta knows La Masia well from the inside out and is well-versed with its young gems.

Facing the likes of Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal in his team’s 1-0 defeat to Barcelona, he witnessed the duo’s talent first-hand once again and was taken aback by their quality.

Speaking to the media after the game, Pimienta did not hold back his surprise and heaped praise on both young phenoms, as reported by SPORT.

“Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi are playing as if they have been in La Liga for 10 years. Insane.”

Pillars of the resurgence

Barcelona’s season has taken a turn for the better in recent weeks, and the team now have momentum on their side for the first time this season.

As explained by Xavi in his post-match press conference, the defensive improvement forms the basis of the team’s return. Pau Cubarsi, needless to say, is one of the most important factors behind the same.

The 17-year-old phenom has played with unreal maturity at the highest of stages and has made it a routine to deliver masterclasses in the first division.

He is now Barcelona’s bonafide starting centre-back alongside Ronald Araujo and has done away with the steep competition.

Yamal, meanwhile, exudes pure magic on the field and boasts of dribbling prowess few can claim to have had in recent years. As the team’s regular right-winger, he has been an equally imposing pillar in the team’s return to form.

Heading into the clash against PSG, all eyes will be on the two young guns, for they hold the key to the team’s progression to the semifinal.