Why Coutinho has failed at Barca?
Why Coutinho has failed at Barca?
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The 26-year-old was signed by the Spanish giants last season, but since, he's regressed and has failed to make an impact at the club that he'd longed to sign for, submitting a transfer request in the months previous.
The fee of £142m is often understated, perhaps due to the excessive fees paid by PSG for Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
Presently, Coutinho is the third-most expensive player in football history, but this season he's only played as frequently as Fabinho has for Liverpool.
Crucially, though, Fabinho has spent a lot of time learning the patterns and intricacies of Jurgen Klopp's system behind the scenes, especially in the early stages of the season, and he only arrived in the summer.
Coutinho on the other hand, has been at Barcelona for over one year now, and he's featured in virtually every league match this season, suggesting there's no lack of understanding present. Despite that, though, the former Liverpool playmaker has completed 90 minutes just seven times this season, with the majority of his minutes accumulated either as a substitute or as a starter before being subbed off.
What is the problem, then? Is Coutinho simply not good enough for Barcelona, or is there more to it?
The issue primarily stems from a lack of suitability, as Coutinho gradually developed at Anfield into a player that requires a specific role that has almost been tailored for him. Klopp afforded the South American much creative freedom in Merseyside, similar to how Tite does when calling him up to the national side.
He's a unique talent in that he's capable out wide and in central areas, and he makes a lot of passes for an attacker. Also, there's the obvious positive that he's one of the world's best at executing shots from distance, with that expertise also able to be translated when taking set-pieces.
However, those talents are significantly less valuable at Barcelona right now largely because of two people - Valverde and Lionel Messi.
The Barcelona head coach has maintained the core principles held by the Catalan club, but he's also instilled a strict system, particularly defensively, with either 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 utilised. Within that system, one player is afforded creative freedom to effectively do as he pleases, and that player is Messi.
Messi essentially has the role that Coutinho requires to succeed, as it's tailored to his abilities, it's creative, and there's somewhat less enforced responsibility. Also, Messi takes the free-kicks whenever he's on the pitch, and rightfully so too considering the Argentine has slotted 20 in the last five seasons, which is more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues.
Ultimately, the presence of Messi renders Coutinho somewhat redundant, and Valverde cannot simply tailor another role for him, as the overall system has to be retained. As a result, Coutinho's output has suffered, with his attacker radar pictured below based on league minutes.
Latest comments- 0KhayaledumileYesterday 16:41Barcelona failed him, not the other way around. because They have a squad of 30 players and I believe that Messi should adapt himself to the team, and not the other way around. Barcelona is Al about pleasing messi n make players play how he wants them instead of adapting n that's one thing that will always cut him short of Ronaldo because he doesn't want to adapt to change n now even Dembele have to leave because he don't play the messi kind of football, He should also learn to play to the benefit of the team n not himself cos it doesn't bring growth to the team or any progress, if he is to leave the team Barcelona will struggle because they are more into his kind of football n the managers also do encourage the same thing rather than helping him to adapt to new ideas n tactics they want to Bring to the team.
- 1Tihbdir2 months agogive him some fucking space
- 2MoosyIbms2 months agoTheir didn't give him enough time to play that's why countinho we love u
- 0pumblnuyz2 months agowe all know he is full of immense talent. he was very good at liverpool as well as in fcb in previous season. this season he isn't showing what he supposed to do. i think there is problem in valverde tactics and formation.valverde shows 4-3-3 formation but couthino play a little depper than messi and suraez and other thing is that valverde game plan mostly focuses on messi. focusing on messi isn't odd for fcb but is mecessity because messi makes difference on pitch but always relying on messi suraez makes coutinho little bit backwards in goal tally. it is good news that coutinho is playing well in recent few games. hope he will stay with fcb until his retirement.
- 3Kohmarz2 months agoHe didn’t fail I don’t know how can they write fake articles, he played wonderfully and he will prove you haters wrong in next season. Wish you best of luck the heart of Barca fans.
- 3omarfarooq7772 months agoNope you dumb . He is not failed . He is just having a bad season . That's it . He is regaining his form again . He will be crucial for Barca very soon...
- 1Alexinaljr1232 months agoMust you people post something about Coutinho leave the guy alone
- 1Messi17102 months agohe is not playing on preferred position...don't judge him by these games just a do in form..wait and see. he'll be back to doing magic at camp nou
- a dip in form
