Oscar Mingueza: 'Yamal and Cubarsi play like they've been here for 15 years'
Ahead of Celta Vigo’s upcoming clash with Barcelona in La Liga, former La Masia graduate Oscar Mingueza has shared his thoughts on his old club, their recent form, and the pressures of life at Camp Nou.
Speaking to Jijantes FC, Mingueza reflected on Barcelona’s progression to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, acknowledging the mental challenge of maintaining focus with a commanding lead. “Barcelona is much stronger now. They struggled a bit in the second leg, but it’s tough to play with a 4-0 advantage. The important thing was to qualify,” said the defender, commenting on the Catalans’ tie against Borussia Dortmund.
Mingueza, who now plays a key role for Celta Vigo, also discussed the intensity of playing for Barcelona, especially for defenders. “Barcelona defend very high and press a lot. They can play possession football or attack on the counter. Right now, they’re in great form,” he explained. “We’ll need to be at our best to have a chance of winning.”
He spoke highly of Barcelona’s current centre-back options and praised 18-year-old Pau Cubarsi for his maturity on the pitch. “Cubarsi looks like he’s been playing in the first division for 15 years. It’s the same with Lamine… it’s impressive,” Mingueza said. “All the defenders are very fit. Cubarsi, Inigo, Eric... playing at that level is really difficult.”
He also acknowledged the immense pressure on Barcelona’s defenders, particularly on managing possession and playing far from goal. “Defending at Barcelona is extremely demanding. The ability to play out from the back, to maintain that high line—Araujo’s leadership is crucial,” he added.
When asked about his decision to leave Barcelona, Mingueza was honest about the circumstances and expressed satisfaction with his current situation. “When I left, I wasn’t performing at my best. Now, I’m very happy and settled at Celta,” he concluded.
Barcelona’s trip to face Celta Vigo comes at a crucial moment in the title race, as they look to keep the pressure on Real Madrid and maintain their hopes of a treble this season.
