Barcelona star hits out at lack of playing time under Ronald Koeman: “I do not understand this situation” 

Miralem Pjanic has hit out about his lack of playing time at Barcelona under boss Ronald Koeman: “I do not understand this situation.”

Pjanic – a summer arrival from Juventus – suffered from Covid-19 and that he also did not have a meaningful pre-season to get into his ideal state of fitness, but it is now at the point where questions are beginning to be asked.

He began training on 17 September with the club – 17 days after the majority of his teammates and also sustained a back injury whilst on international duty with Bosnia.

A poll in Marca last month outlined how 78 percent of respondents believe Pjanic should be in the club’s strongest XI, ahead of teammate Sergio Busquets.

Arturo Vidal, Ivan Rakitic and Arthur Melo were among the exits from the Camp Nou this summer, meaning that he was expected to play more frequently thus far – starting just six games of a possible 15 across La Liga and the Champions League.

Pjanic told Gazzetta dello Sport, as per Marca: “Should I play more? Yes, and that is what I want. Honestly, I don’t even understand the reason for this situation. It is clear that I want to play a lot more. I know I can give a lot, and when the coach calls me, I always answer. I did well, I played good games. More than that, I do not know what else I could do. I’m training, I’m ready.

“I’m not satisfied and I can’t be, in my career I’ve never accepted the idea of ​​not playing and I don’t even do it now. We will see, but I’m ready, I’m training well and waiting, I can’t do anything else. It is a very delicate situation.”

Tags Miralem Pjanic Ronald Koeman

12 Comments

  1. He isn’t all that. In the times that he has played, he hasn’t really made his mark on the field. If he thinks he is better, he can always ask for a transfer in the January window.

    1. If barca didn’t want to use him , what was the point of buying him in the first place
      Moreover he gave an exceptional performance in the latest UCL match with 120+/140+ successful passes.
      He can be the key to defeat juve

  2. He’s right! Koeman is so lost and it’s clear his obsession with supporting his fellow Dutch star is hindering his position. Pjanic and Puig are being done dirty by this coach. Take off Busquets and give these boys a chance!

  3. I think Pjanic deserves more time. For now he is better than Sergio. Pjanic & De Jong good combination. Sergio makes De Jong run most n do more work. Sergio shld benched

  4. I don’t know what’s happen.why can’t koeman place him in the starting XI, and he’s good than Busquet for now

  5. the guy is doing absolutely good on the pitch, I don’t really know what is wrong with coach that need more play time so he prove himself. it is clear to everyone that he is a great player. so we should allow him to prove himself so he can give barca what he has

  6. I don’t know what is the problem of this coach, to be frank barca doesn’t have defensive midfield that better than pjanic, and there are benched him why?

  7. It would be nice if Pjanic says this after demonstrating that he actually deserves a start. Right now, Riqui Puig with considerably less playing time is not complaining & yet has demonstrated more quality than Pjanic when he does play.

    Also, every comment here saying he’s better than Busquets makes my eyeballs fall off, especially those saying he’s a defensive midfielder. Are you serious? Pjanic has NEVER been a defensive midfielder. If you look at his profile, he was an attacking midfielder for most of his career & even when he played deep for Juventus, it was not as a DM (he was more acting like a deep-lying playmaker). If that’s the level of football knowledge you have, then it’s no wonder you think he’s better than Busquets. Plus, when you resort to embarrassing insults like “chicken legs,” you reveal that your issue with Busquets has nothing to do with his performance and everything to do with the fact that he doesn’t fit your narrow idea about a footballer.

    Every time Busquets is not on the pitch & the midfield is de Jong + Pjanic, there is absolutely no control. Neither of these players appear capable of dictating the tempo. Nor is it true that Busquets makes de Jong run more. He runs the same amount regardless of who he is playing with. Plus, suggesting that it’s bad for de Jong to run completely misses the point of this player, whose best quality IS being able to run and carry the ball up the pitch.

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