Barcelona coach Koeman explains why Riqui Puig hasn't been playing this season.
Riqui Puig
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| Riqui Puig |
Ronald Koeman has been very clear as to why
Riqui Puig hasn't featured this season for
Barcelona, despite the amount of players that
have been unavailable.
The Dutch coach has opted for other young
player's meaning Puig hasn't played a single
minute thus far, and he expected more from
him.
The Dutch coach has opted for other young players, meaning Puig hasn't played a single minute thus far, and he expects far more from him.
"He needs to improve many aspects of his game," Koeman said ahead of the game against Granada.
"He warmed up the other day because he had a chance of coming on, but I had to bring on someone else because of the injury to Jordi Alba.
"He has to work hard just like any other young player."
Koeman has praised the talents of other young players such as Ansu Fati and Alejandro Balde, and isn't scared to opt for youth.
"I'm not scared at all to start young players, but playing six of them at this moment isn't good," he said.
"They will participate, though, and get their minutes. It's difficult to say when they'll play more. You need to work with them.
"If you're talking about a player like Pedri, he has to start."
Puig has been included in all three of Barcelona's squads so far in LaLiga, but hasn't been given an opportunity yet.
Last season he played a total of 593 minutes, and the club have ruled out the possibility of a loan move in each of the transfer windows since he broke into the team in the 2018/19 campaign.
