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Barcelona have been visibly below there effervescent best this season but their progress under Ronald Koeman has given the fanbase a healthy dose of optimism. The Catalan giants are in a transitional phase at the moment but are still in contention for a few trophies this season.
Barcelona have often been criticised for fielding an old squad in recent years but seem to have learnt their lessons this season. Ronald Koeman has introduced a host of young players to the first team and the Catalans have achieved commendable returns as a result.
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Barcelona are in a transition under Ronald Koeman
Barcelona are currently 10 points behind Atletico Madrid in the La Liga standings but have managed to recover from a slow start to the season. The Catalan giants are the favourites to win the Copa del Rey and are also alive in the UEFA Champions League.
The Blaugrana have a new-look squad this season and several players are beginning to shine under Ronald Koeman. The youngsters in the squad have also displayed maturity beyond their years and feature heavily on this list. Barcelona may have endured a difficult start to their La Liga campaign but have several players that have given their fans a cause for cheer.
#5 Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann did not enjoy a particularly positive start to his life at Barcelona and was heavily criticised for his underwhelming performances last year. The French striker was unable to fit into Barcelona's system in his first season at the club and was linked with a move away from the club.
Under Ronald Koeman, however, Griezmann has found his feet in the side and has been a critical cog in Barcelona's system over the past two months. In addition to his work-rate and pressing, Antoine Griezmann has also become a creative presence in the final third and has shown tremendous improvement this year.
The Frenchman has managed 10 goals and four assists for Barcelona this season and has formed fruitful relationships with the rest of the forward line. Griezmann is capable of the spectacular and will be crucial to Barcelona's fortunes this season.
#4 Ronald Araujo
Ronald Araujo has been a godsend for Barcelona this season. The Uruguayan defender had an immediate impact on the first team and has managed to give a generally vulnerable defence an aura of solidity in recent months.
Araujo is one of the fastest centre-backs in La Liga and his ability to keep pace with his opponents has allowed Barcelona the luxury of pressing high up the pitch. The centre-back has been his side's best defender by a country mile this year and has had a tangible effect on Barcelona's performances.
Araujo is a towering presence at both ends of the pitch and his physique makes him a formidable opponent. The 21-year-old defender will also face a different level of opposition in the Champions League next month and will likely relish the challenge.
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#3 Pedri
Barcelona have always been blessed with some of the best creative midfielders in the world and seem to have unearthed yet another gem this season. At only 18 years of age, Pedri is already one of the most promising prospects in La Liga and has become a fan favourite at the Camp Nou.
The Spanish youngster has formed excellent relationships with Frenkie de Jong and Lionel Messi and has been one of Barcelona's most important players this season. The Catalans lacked vision and penetration in their build-up play last year and Pedri has effectively managed to solve many of Ronald Koeman's problems in the past few months.
The midfielder is versatile and has also played on the left flank on a few occasions for the Blaugrana. Pedri's ability to probe into the final third has eased the creative burden on Lionel Messi and has made Barcelona an attacking juggernaut in La Liga. The teenage prodigy also chips in with his fair share of recoveries and is well on his way to becoming a complete midfielder.
#2 Lionel Messi
By his own supernatural standards, Lionel Messi has had a poor season. The Argentine genius has been miles below his influential best for a majority of the season and seems to be bearing the brunt of an unnaturally hectic schedule.
While Messi has received his fair share of criticism this season, the statistics unsurprisingly remain in his favour. The Barcelona captain has already scored 16 goals this season and seems to be growing in confidence with a Blaugrana side that has shown steady improvement over the past few months.
Lionel Messi has pulled the strings for Barcelona for the past several years and his role in the final third has largely remained the same under Ronald Koeman this season. With Frenkie de Jong and Pedri carrying their weight in the midfield, Lionel Messi has chipped in with moments of magic this year and seems to be moving towards his unstoppable best.
#1 Frenkie de Jong
Barcelona's decision to appoint Ronald Koeman as their manager at the start of the season did have its fair share of detractors. The Dutch manager had to edge ahead of several candidates to secure the job and his relationship and experience with star midfielder Frenkie de Jong certainly worked in his favour.
De Jong joined Barcelona after a spectacular season at Ajax but found it difficult to fit into the Catalans' tactical system. Quique Setien and Ernesto Valverde largely failed to get the best out of the prodigious midfielder during their time at the club.
After a few trials and errors, Ronald Koeman has finally managed to inculcate Frenkie de Jong's magical abilities into a system that benefits the bigger picture for Barcelona. De Jong has played in an attacking role in recent weeks and has already scored five important goals for the Catalans.
Frenkie de Jong's versatility makes him one of Barcelona's most important players. The Dutchman has an innate ability to move with the ball and tends to bring the best out of his teammates. With De Jong showing steady improvement and the players around him sharing his creative burden, Barcelona may well restore their former glory in the months to come.
