Setien made a mistake with De Jong?

The game at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, like any other when they've been defeated, has put several Barcelona players under the spotlight.

Antoine Griezmann had another discreet match, it was confirmed that Jordi Alba isn't fully fit and Frenkie de Jong tiptoed in a match in which the Dutchman was expected to step forward.

In this change of formation, tactical restructuring and race against the clock to recover the football philosophy since Quique Setien's arrival, Barcelona have left De Jong behind. His former coach Erik ten Hag warned of this a few weeks ago.

"He is not a scorer. He is the player who is responsible for accommodating the teammates who give assists or who score goals from their position," he said.

The Ajax coach is not wrong. Since Setien's arrival, Frenkie does not participate in the beginning of the play, because of his very advanced starting position on the wing.

If you don't play in your area, you don't find game situations in which you feel comfortable. His goal against Real Betis was attributed to that new role but the truth is that, on that play, the Dutchman appeared from the second line.

Barcelona got rid of wingers, playing with Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Messi as their only forwards. Arturo Vidal and De Jong have been forced to play as false inside midfielders in the last matches.

While the Chilean feels more comfortable in that position, due to his offensive nature and ability to finish, De Jong has lost his much-needed connection with the ball.

As a result, Barcelona have seen the worst version of one of their star signings in recent games. And the matter seems to have a difficult solution. Either Setien brings back a formation with wingers, by playing Martin Braithwaite or Ansu Fati, or decides to exchange the roles between Arthur and De Jong so that the Dutchman can participate in the creation of play with Sergio Busquets.

The midfielder called to carry the mantle of the Catalan's play in the coming years, the brain signed to guarantee the Barcelona DNA in the long term, is stuck in a position that is not suitable for him and can't take advantage of his great qualities. Setien has a problem with De Jong. It is not the only one, but one of the most important.