Koeman gives headlines rest against Villarreal

A total of nine starters from the game against Villarreal did not attend the Ciutat Esportiva this morning, since the Dutch coach gave them a day of rest. So that, Messi, Griezmann, Coutinho, Sergio Busquets, Alba, Piqué, Lenglet, De Jong and Sergi Roberto enjoyed a holiday. The rest of the players, including goalkeeper Neto and the forward of the moment, Ansu Fati, did participate in the training session.

Total, Koeman had thirteen players on Tuesday, most of them young and from the branch: Neto, Peña, Tenas, Aleñá, Dembélé, Rafinha, Pedri, Braithwaite, Fati, Riqui Puig, Konrad, Araujo and Mingo. In fact, two of the three signings this season did not participate in the session either, despite not having started against Villarreal: Trincao and Pjanic.

It must also be taken into account that Messi did not jump to train on Monday either – the day after the game he usually stays in the gym to do a bath and massage session-, so in the case of Messi, he will not return to the pitch until this Wednesday, in the preview of the match against Celta.

The session was again attended by Martin Braithwaite, who is gradually joining the group dynamics after suffering an injury to the rectus anterior quadriceps of the left leg ten days ago.