Man who signed Coutinho claims Valverde uses him in wrong position
Robert Fernandez was Barcelona's sporting director in winter 2017/18. He played a huge role in Philippe Coutinho's long-awaited transfer. The Spaniard delivers his opinion on Coutinho's current problems in an interview with ESPN. He suggests that Phil's main problems are lack of playing time and position on the pitch.
"It's normal, what he's going through," Robert says in an interview with ESPN. "He's one of the best footballers in the world, but there's just one thing holding him back, something which would have the same effect on anyone: If you don't play regularly, you begin to despair. Do you think if Messi wasn't playing as much as he wanted, he wouldn't lose heart? All footballers want the same thing. Coutinho is an exceptional baller."
"He's playing on [the left of the] attack, but he plays through the middle without any problems," he added. "He plays and he creates the play, but for Barca to maintain their 4-3-3 formation, he has to play wider. And, of course, he suffers out there. Little by little, he must have lost confidence and without that you're no one on the pitch, no matter what your name is."
Coutinho was moved to midfield during Barca's match against Espanyol when Malcom appeared on the field and assumed the left winger role. It was clear that the 26-year-old felt better alongside Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic, not Leo Messi and Luis Suarez.
"Coutinho is playing on the left wing, but there are times he can play inside on the left," Ernesto Valverde explained after the game. "They were so far back, we thought it was better to push him in there and make room for Malcom."
Do you agree with Robert Fernandez?
