They are 17 players to have been used by Ronald Koeman since the start of the La Liga season with FC Barcelona. Messi, Piqué, De Jong, Neto, Sergi Roberto played all three games against Villarreal, Celta Vigo and Sevilla FC in full (290 minutes in total). The rest of the players are distributed like this: Busquets (258 minutes), Jordi Alba (255), Coutinho (217), Ansu Fati (203), Griezmann (184), Araujo (135), Lenglet (133), Pedri (67 ), Trincao (59), Pjanic (27) and newcomer Dest, (15). We must add the goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegen, who will resume his place of holder once he has fully recovered from an operation of the patellar tendon.
Ousmane Dembélé played 21 minutes against Villarreal, but he is clearly considered as a solution twice, or even ter, by the new coach of the Catalan club. He was initially pushed by the leaders, who needed the cash to bring in Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia. His failed new transfer will not plead in his favor, and Koeman appears to prefer several options before calling on the 23-year-old France international. As reported As, it is also a similar situation for Samuel Umtiti, who would not enter the plans of the Batavian coach. The latter still hopes to welcome Eric Garcia next January and does not rely on the French central defender.
The ghost recruit Matheus Fernandes
Besides the two Habs, Koeman does not count on Riqui Puig, Carlos Aleña or Junior Firpo. These are not players injured, affected by a transfer or too irregular, but simply a technical decision, according to the Spanish newspaper. They might have to play if there are too many absences but they are not considered viable options by Koeman.
Danish forward Martin Braithwaite, a surprise rookie last winter, is also unwelcome in Koeman’s eyes. The former Téfécé may have recovered the number 9 from Luis Suarez, he should very rarely have the opportunity to express himself on the field. The same goes for the Brazilian Matheus Fernandes (22, midfielder), called the “Ghost recruit” because not presented by Barça since his arrival from Palmeiras (he was loaned to Valladolid for the end of last season). These seven players are likely to find the time long by next January and the opening of the winter transfer window.
