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.
Iraq's Olympic side draw 0-0 with Iran at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran to ensure that they topped Group C of the AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers. Abdul-Ghani Shahad's team will be aiming to finish in the top three of that tournament in order to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Iraq national football team - Wikipedia
Klopp says he would have paid for four point lead over City. MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - The four point lead Liverpool have at the top of the Premier League even after a 2-1 defeat to rivals
Man City end Liverpool's unbeaten run, cut lead to four
NEW YORK (AFP) - Wall Street stocks finished a choppy session slightly lower on Tuesday (Feb 26) after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated a dovish approach to further interest rate hikes.
Global stocks turn negative as India-Pakistan tensions worsen
Old Trafford no longer a 'scary' place to go to, says Pep LONDON • Pep Guardiola believes that Manchester United have lost the fear factor and that his Manchester City side are not afraid to go to Old Trafford any more in recent years.
'It is not scary to go there' - Pep Guardiola says Man City
Ronaldo '1,000%' sure of staying. Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri embracing Cristiano Ronaldo, both with their heads covered in foam, after the Italian club sealed their eighth consecutive
Zidane sure of Ronaldo's stay - YouTube
Football: Guardiola expects Man City to suffer in tricky FA Cup trip to Newport MANCHESTER, England (REUTERS) - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola predicts his side will "suffer" against fourth-tier Newport County in their FA Cup fifth round match on Saturday but has urged his players to adapt to a battered playing surface at Rodney Parade.
Guardiola expects Man City to suffer in tricky trip to Newport
Train travel in Japan is really easy. Language is hardly ever a problem, stations have signs & departure boards in English as well as Japanese. You can see for yourself in the travel tips section below.
Report Ad
Taxi - London To Derby = £210 Book Online Or Call 02071276550
AIRMARINE CUP Malaysia 0 Singapore 1 The straightforward half was to vow entertaining, attacking soccer however Nazri Nasir walked the stroll when he guided the Lions to a 1-Zero win over Malaysia within the AirMarine Cup final evening, in his debut because the caretaker nationwide coach.
Airmarine Cup 2019: 5 talking points as hosts Malaysia suffer
Villans ascend into EPL heaven - straitstimes.com
Willian eager to stay at Chelsea despite exit rumours. By. Willian has been repeatedly linked with a move away from Chelsea but he was adamant he wanted to stay at the west London club
Willian eager to stay at Chelsea despite exit rumours | IOL
Shop for the Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Ray4 Electric Bass Guitar and receive free shipping on your order and the guaranteed lowest price.
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch coppa america live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming vivo
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch premier league live streaming video
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch champions league live streaming live
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch champions league live streaming match
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch premier league stream reddit
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
soccer tv live net stream
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch coppa america live streaming quality
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch english premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch premier league live in stream
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch soccer live stream apk
watch premier league live stream hd
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch champions league live stream uk
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
tv soccer live stream sky
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch live soccer streaming free android
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch soccer games live stream free
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch soccer aid live stream online
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch us soccer live stream
watch live streaming soccer games
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch champions league simulcast live stream
free watch soccer live streaming
watch premier league games live stream
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming bola
free watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
#champion #Bar #Liverpool #coutinho #calciatoribrutti #football #coyg #mane #sixtimes #villarealcf #4Series #Suarez #juventus #transfernews #JUVENTUS #manchestercity #gooners #nationsleague #footballfans #meunier #panini #zidane #liverpoolcity #roadtrip #Sunday #Fcb #petercrouch #league1 #leicestercity #bayern #oasisengland #sumbertv #kickoff #linkstreaming #Barca #coys #comico #manchestercity #comics #lionelmessi #tokyo #commentimemorabili #acmilan #vip #liverpool #elcasico #sunderlandafc #chocolatecoffee #footballmeme #leomessi #realmadrid #hoffenhiem #pagani #vandijk #golf #football #bestshishacafedubai #manchesterunited #noelgallagher #conference #mancityvsliverpool #watchlive #ucl #manunited
No comments:
Post a Comment