BARCELONA (REUTERS) - Barcelona shelled out a club record €160 million (S$250 million) to prise Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool, yet one year on from his signing, the Brazilian is struggling to get a game while his former side are thriving in his absence.
Coutinho, the third most expensive player in the world behind Paris St Germain's Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, made a flying start to his Barcelona career with 10 goals in his first five months, giving the team a more direct outlet in midfield and an extra threat with his impressive long-range shooting.
But his impact has waned. He has failed to start any of the La Liga leaders' last three league games, falling behind Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal and French forward Ousmane Dembele in the pecking order.
Coach Ernesto Valverde has stopped short of publicly criticising the player, and neglected to say whether he had a preference for Coutinho or Dembele, the club's second most expensive acquisition at 105 million euros.
"It's a long way from being a problem having them both. It's an advantage," Valverde said last month.
"The coach is pro-Barca, he wants the team to win."
Valverde's recent team selections, however, may offer a clue to his thinking.
Â
Â
There was no place for Coutinho when Valverde fielded an unorthodox 3-5-2 formation in the recent 5-0 hammering of Levante, while he also left the Brazilian out when playing his usual 4-3-3 shape in victories over Espanyol and Celta Vigo.
The coach did pick Coutinho for a visit to Rayo Vallecano in November, but when he saw his side losing 2-1 at one of the weakest teams in the top flight, he hauled off the Brazilian and later brought on Dembele, who scored as Barca pulled off a dramatic 3-2 victory.
In the last three league outings, Valverde has continued to show faith in Dembele, despite the French youngster running into trouble for turning up late to training.
With the lightning quick forward forming a blistering attacking trident with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, and the highly-experienced Vidal slotting comfortably into the midfield three, Coutinho has been forced to make do with cameo appearances from the bench.
It is quite the fall from grace for a player many believed was signed as the long-term successor to Andres Iniesta, who ended 16 trophy-laden seasons with Barca last May to see out his career in Japan.
With Liverpool sitting four points clear at the top of the Premier League, Coutinho may be wondering on Sunday's anniversary of his transfer from Anfield to the Nou Camp whether it was quite the dream move he had imagined at the time.
LONDON (AFP) - Maurizio Sarri warned his Chelsea stars to improve their mentality after Willian's sublime strike sealed a hard-fought 2-1 win over struggling Newcastle on Saturday (Jan 12).. Read
Willian gem sinks Newcastle as Chelsea cement fourth place
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field | Football Extras: Plane cushions found in search for missing soccer player Sala
Plane cushions found in search for missing football star
Barcelona will win La Liga on Wednesday if Atletico Madrid lose to Valencia after a 2-0 victory over Alaves gave them a 12-point lead at the top of the table. Goals from Carles Aleña and a Luis Suarez penalty in the second half gave Barça a comfortable win.
Barcelona stroll to Super Cup title - MARCA English
Pundit Chris Sutton lashed out at the Spain international, telling BBC Sport "Kepa should be sacked". The former Blues forward said: "I've seen players disgruntled before and throw a boot or their
Chelsea news: 'Kepa should be sacked, not Maurizio Sarri
Signs of Manchester United revival in loss to City: Wes Brown City were denied a second by a superb goal-line clearance from Ben Mee, who stretched to clear off the line after substitute Gabriel
Wes Brown recognises Ferguson fingerprints at Manchester
Doing pre-season as a rugby player in my youth we had to train outdoor during hailstorms and weren't allowed to run for cover, we formed a huddle instead and waited it out. Experiences like that build solidarity, camaraderie and fitness. That's why Emery's brother said "none of the players protested".
Harry Kane STARTS Champions League final for Tottenham
It took 693 days but Tottenham finally returned "home" and in their state-of-the-art new digs, Spurs not only won but began a whole new era.
Tottenham Hotspur | New Era
Everton's hopes of finishing in seventh and a potential Europa League qualification spot suffered a blow as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on
Everton held to goalless draw at Palace - Footballghana
Neymar is unlikely to play when Paris Saint-Germain travel to Manchester United in the 'Super difficult' for Neymar to face Man Utd, says PSG boss Tuchel according to head coach Thomas Tuchel.
Thomas Tuchel: It Will Be 'Super Difficult' for Neymar to
Liverpool defender Joel Matip will be out of action for up to six weeks after suffering a fractured collarbone. Liverpool title bid hit by Matip injury | Sport24
Liverpool title bid hit by Matip injury - thesundaily.my
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch premier league games live stream
watch english premier league live streaming online
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch soccer live streaming mobile
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch soccer game live espn
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch soccer live stream links
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch premier league live streaming free
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch coppa america live streaming online free
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch premier league live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch soccer am online live streaming
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch the premier league live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch premier league live stream hd
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch coppa america live streaming free
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch soccer live stream app
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch champions league live streaming crictime
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch champions league live streaming video
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch champions league live streaming now
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch live english premier league online free streaming
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch soccer am live stream
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch premier league darts live stream
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch premier league live in stream
watch the champions league live stream
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch champions league draw live streaming
free watch soccer live streaming
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch soccer online free streaming live english
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
#americanfootball #freekicks #freekickerz #bayernmunich #Barca #realmadrid #jadwalbolahariini #mensnightout #romania #nikesoccer #24x7 #trollfootball #Suarez #liverpoolcity #gunners #nationsleague #Celtic #mane #arsenal #manchestercity #Sunday #boxing #pagani #premierleague #streamingbolaid #realmadrid #transfernews #uefanationsleague #juventus #Liamgallagher #champion #championship #hoffenhiem #londoncity #sixtimes #oudmehta #hotcoffee #portsmouthfc #satira #realmadridcf #4Series #footballdubai #sumbertv #coys #freekick #liverpoolfans #golf #mancity #ucl #barcelona #commento #cristiano #mancityvsliverpool #comics #kroenkeout #soccer #petercrouch #liverpool #footballmemes #football #neymar #footballmeme #midnight #fcbarcelona #liverpoolfc #bayern #chocolate #thebeatles #lfc #vip #footballschedule #watchlive #ignoranza #seriea #soccer #league1 #footballstreaming #fut #cr7 #girlsniteout #lionelmessi #golazo #sunderlandafc #oasis #goodday #manchestercity #roadtrip #oasisandbeatles #frasirap #kickoff #bayervshoffenheim #zinedinezidane #myfootballuniverse #adidasslipon #elcasico #Vip45 #bestshishacafedubai
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen