3 things Ernesto Valverde must do to improve Barcelona's form

Ernesto Valverde one of the most under-pressure managers in the world and it is not hard to see why the 55-year-old is facing criticism from numerous sectors of Barcelona's fanbase.

He won the league title in each of his first two seasons, but the embarrassment of the club's eliminations from the Champions League in consecutive seasons meant that Valverde entered this campaign with his job less than secure.

So far this season, it has been less than an ideal start to the campaign for Barcelona and despite the fact that they currently sit top of the league, there has been some discontent over the pattern of play and shock defeats which the Catalans suffered in the league.

Given Barcelona's status as a club used to winning and winning well, the onus is on Valverde to turn things around as soon as possible or he may well find himself out of a job.

In this piece, we shall highlight three things that Valverde can do to get Barcelona working once again.

#3 Sort his defence out

One of the key reasons why Barcelona have struggled this term is because their defence has simply not been up to par.

The goals are still flowing in their numbers at the other end, evidenced by the 29 goals they have scored from just 11 matches and it goes without saying that the Catalans are the most potent side in the Primera division.

However, it is their backline which has cost them dearly. So far, Barcelona have conceded a whopping 14 goals from just 11 matches and this becomes more disappointing when you realize that the defending champions have the worst defensive record in the top five.

Furthermore, Barcelona have kept just three clean sheets in the league so far and lowly clubs like Osasuna, Levante, and Granada have breached their defence at least two or more times over 90 minutes.

Gerard Pique is famed for his slow starts to seasons, but even he has taken his poor form to new lows this season, while Clement Lenglet is not building on the promise shown last season and Samuel Umtiti's injury woes have not helped matters.

The defence is a crucial aspect of any team and while they might have gotten by all these years without a compact backline, but with their midfield no longer what it used to be, Valverde must find a way to solidify his defence to get Barcelona back on track.

#2 Identify his best midfield

Barcelona has an abundance of talent in midfield

There is an abundance of talented players available to Valverde in midfield which would come as no surprise to keen followers of the game, as over the years, the Catalans have prioritized midfield excellence over any other position.

This saturation in midfield has had the consequent effect of constant changing and rotation in the middle, with Valverde trying out different combinations to get the most out of his players.

Very rarely have the same midfield combinations started consecutive matches and this has given a feel of unfamiliarity in their play.

At the heights of their powers, Barcelona had a discernible midfield identity, with Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Busquets holding it down in the middle for club and country and this bond played no small part in their unprecedented success.

Of Barcelona's eight first-team midfielders, only Frenkie de Jong has appeared in all 15 matches played in all competitions for a total of 1,218 minutes.

The next most frequent player is Sergio Busquets with 13 appearances and 912 minutes. The only other midfielders to have played for up to 500 minutes are Arthur and Sergi Roberto, with the latter spending a significant chunk of his time on the field at right-back.

Judging by how frequently he has played, it is a no-brainer that Frenkie de Jong is indispensable, while the fact that the three losses suffered by Barcelona this season have come in games where Busquets did not start is indicative of his usefulness to the team.

Squad rotation and player management is an important aspect of the game, but for a side that attaches so much importance to identity in the middle, it is imperative that Ernesto Valverde sorts out his midfield conundrum as soon as possible.

#1 Get the best out of an underperforming Griezmann

Antoinne Griezmann was signed to complement Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi in attack and given how well he performed at Atletico Madrid and with the French national team, fans of Barcelona were optimistic about the mouth-watering prospect of their new front three.

However, over three months into the new season, and the attack is yet to get into top gear, with injuries playing a large part in keeping the forwards apart.

Of the three, only Antoine Griezmann has not been plagued by an injury, but in the absence of Messi and Suarez, he struggled to handle the mantle of goalscoring and was usurped by youngsters like Ansu Fati and Carles Perez.

The 3-0 victory over Eibar saw all three men score, but apart from that, there has not been much else to celebrate, as Griezmann has shown a distinct disconnection with Suarez and Messi, in particular, leading Valverde to state that he must adapt to the team's style of play.

For all of his greatness, Lionel Messi cannot do it all and if Barcelona are to achieve their lofty ambitions this season, other players must step up to the plate.

The ball is in Valverde's court to find a system which suits Grezmann and Messi, for only then can the Catalans genuinely harbour hopes of success this season.

Edited by Sai Teja