Riqui Puig in a training

RIQUI ISN'T PLAYING WITH KOEMAN

Koeman 'gets wet' on Riqui Puig: "If a player doesn't play, it's for something"

Published:12/12/2020 - 16:37h

Updated:14/12/2020 - 00:18h

Riqui Puig is barely counting on minutes at FC Barcelona and there are fans who do not understand the role that Ronald Koeman is giving him. The Dutchman spoke about the youth squad and dropped that if he is not playing too much it is because of something special

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Riqui Puig is being the player of the first team of the FC Barcelona that less minutes is having this season. The one of Matadepera hardly is explaining for Ronald Koeman, that until the moment only has given him 77 minutes between all the competitions. The offensive midfield player has contested 3 minutes in LaLiga, in front of the Getafe, and 74 in Champions League, with 25 against the Dynamo of Kiev, 24 in front of the Ferencvaros and 24 against the Juventus of Turín.

By some reason that only the technician barcelonista knows, the canterano is not winning more opportunities that for a lot of Barcelona fans himself would deserve . Precisely by this, in the previous press conference to the Barça-Raise of this Sunday, the press asked to the míster of Zaandam on what is occurring with the one of Matadepera. The ex seleccionador of Holland did not hint on if will have or no minutes against the granotas.

"It has gone in in the last meetings. The team that form depend of the performance of the players. I always look for the best eleven. Already we will see what happens tomorrow", aimed, without discovering what will happen. But this answer was not sufficient for the journalists, that tried sonsacarle something more to the Dutch trainer. Then, Koeman himself left to fall that the young footballer could not being giving all what would owe to convince him.

"It does not like me individualizar on a player. A trainer analyses the system, the footballers... And in function of this analysis does the team. There is more than 20 footballers, but if a player is not, is by something", affirmed. This last part of his statement involves that Riqui is not doing all what Ronald wants that it do. Perhaps therefore, the Catalan has played so little until this moment.

Koeman Could be changing his opinion on Riqui

Luckily for the mediocampista, seems that his trainer little by little goes seeing something distinct in him, since it has given him minutes in the last three meetings of League of Champions. Still it has not been headline, as yes it has been it for example Carles Aleñá, but is a good symptom that gave him an opportunity in front of the Juve, in a party in which the Barça was playing his pass like first to the eighth of final.

If Koeman decides to give him more minutes against the granotas, although they are from the bench, will be the confirmation that the Dutch is changing his perception on Riqui. Nevertheless, his words of this Saturday are not too alentadoras and leave clear that there is something of the jewel of the Masia that does not finish to convince him. It will be necessary to see if the one of Matadepera finish to convince him with his football and work.

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