Madrid, Tuesday

The Spanish press have slammed Barcelona’s ‘appalling’ performance and their tactical style in their draw against Granada at the Nou Camp, which increased the pressure on under-fire boss Ronald Koeman.

The Catalan giants needed a 90th-minute equaliser from defender Ronaldo Araujo to rescue a point on home soil after Domingos Duarte had given the Andalusian side the lead inside two minutes.

The result was not the only aspect of Barcelona’s performance that faced criticism, with Koeman having to defend his side’s direct style of play which saw centre-back Gerard Pique playing up front alongside Luuk de Jong. 

It was a marked difference from the possession-based style that has been associated with the club, and MARCA in particular were left dumbfounded by the tactics employed by under-fire boss Koeman.

MARCA ran with the headline: ‘What Barcelona is this?’, labelling their display ‘appalling’. 

They also accused Barcelona of ‘giving up’ on their traditional possession-based dominant playing style that has brought the club so much success.

Catalan-based newspaper SPORT went with a slightly more positive headline, praising the performance of centre-back Araujo, labelling him as a ‘hero’ and as ‘the key man on the night’.

Equally worrying was the fact Barcelona once again ‘demonstrated their impotence and lack of resources’ against Granada. 

The Dutchman however is under growing pressure as manager, with the likes of former midfielder Xavi, Andrea Pirlo, Antonio Conte and ex-Derby boss Phillip Cocu being linked with the job by reports in Spain.

But asked how he thought the result might affect his prospects of staying in the job Koeman said: ‘I am not going to talk any more about my future.’

He also suggested that with the players he has it is impossible to play any other way than the more direct approach they adopted on Monday evening.

Barcelona now sit seventh in LaLiga, two points off Real Sociedad in fourth and five behind leaders Real Madrid.

Koeman’s men will now be looking for their first win since beating Getafe at the end of last month when they visit Cadiz next on Thursday.– Daily Mail