Coutinho eager to 'get back out on the pitch'

The setback against Cádiz has cut short Barça’s excellent run of results and the most pressing concern at the club right now is getting the Liga campaign back on track. But before that there is a Champions League meeting with Juventus at Camp Nou, and that is what Philippe Coutinho would rather focus on first.

"The team is mentally strong and eager to turn things around” he said in his pre-game press conference. “When you have lost a game, even if it’s in a different competition, you just want to get back out on the pitch and show your strengths.”

He also agreed that “my past performances at Barça weren’t as good as was expected of me, but mentally I am a much stronger footballer now.”

Top of the group

On the Juventus clash, Coutinho said that “it will be a great game. We want to finish top of the group.” As long as Barça don’t lose to the Italians by more than one goal, that objective will be achieved.

Coutinho concluded by saying that “I feel more comfortable playing in a more central position” but that ultimately where he plays comes down to Ronald Koeman, and he is ready to do whatever the coach considers best.