4 reasons why Barcelona is struggling

#3 Flawed rotational policy

Ernesto Valverde, citing the difficult months of September and October, where FC Barcelona play twice every week, started rotating his squad in order to keep all his players fit along with providing them with adequate rest.

Valverde made three changes to his best eleven against Girona replacing Coutinho with Arthur and Ivan Rakitic with Arturo Vidal in his preferred three-man midfield of Rakitic, Busquets and Coutinho and replacing Umtiti with Lenglet in defence, who went on to pick a red later on.

Even after drawing against Girona, the rotation did not stop, with Valverde benching Suarez for Munir and brought in Vermaelen to replace Alba to play as a left back against Leganes, which backfired as Barcelona put in a disastrous performance, conceding two goals within a minute to lose the match.

To make matters worse, Valverde opted to bench Messi against Athletic Bilbao in the next match, and he had to come off the bench to help his side salvage a point. Valverde's rotation has only disrupted the team and helped the team in no manner.

The Barca manager has always had to sub in the players he rested because his tactics or plans haven't been working this season. Valverde's decision-making is under scrutiny because his decisions have been quite questionable.