5 reasons why Lionel Messi should play in midfield for Barcelona

#3 He can create a lot of chances in tandem with Coutinho

Philippe Coutinho can add a much-needed flair to Barcelona.

For long Lionel Messi has been the wellspring of goals for Barcelona, both in terms of creating and scoring them. Though he had a wonderful partner in attack in Suarez, he didn't have a deputy he could count upon in midfield.

Philippe Coutinho has returned from his fairly successful loan spell at Bayern Munich and he brings in a lot of quality, especially starting as a left-winger or in a No.10 role.

If Koeman opts for a 4-2-3-1 system, with Messi on the right of the three-man midfield and Coutinho in the No.10 role, it will provide the duo with a chance to play to their strengths.

Lionel Messi has struggled in central positions as he is usually swarmed by opposition players every time he collects the ball there, but the availability of a specialist like Coutinho there will mean that Messi is free to dictate play from the right flank.

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#2 Advancing age and injury issues

Messi missed a few games due to injury at the beginning of the 2019-20 season.

Lionel Messi has maintained a very high level of fitness throughout his career and has not had many long injury breaks. Playing as a right sided forward on the pitch can be demanding as it involves running back and forth from the right-wing to the midfield. Messi who turned 33 this June, can no longer keep running between the final and second third.

He needs to be utilized in a position that adds the maximum value to his side and as we have seen over the last couple of seasons he is more comfortable in a slightly deeper position. When asked about whether he sees himself as a midfielder in an interview last year, he conceded that he likes to drop deeper and create chances from midfield. He said:

"Now I usually drop myself deeper [on the pitch] to receive and be in contact with the ball and the midfield. I don't know what will happen in the future."

Lionel Messi has never been a traditional striker and now does not have the engine to operate as an effective false No.9. However, his dribbling skills and vision are still top-notch.

Vision is one of the few football skills that does not diminish with age and playing in the midfield as a No.10 will allow Lionel Messi to make the most of his current abilities without putting a strain on himself.

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#1 Lionel Messi in midfield will allow Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembélé to shine

Ansu Fati has been promoted to the first team at Barcelona this season.

Barcelona are without a proven striker at the moment and it seems Antoine Griezmann might be selected to play the role of the central striker by Koeman going forward.

With a three-man midfield behind the lone striker, where Lionel Messi takes the position on the right and Coutinho starts in the middle, the position on the left will be up for grabs. The two players who will benefit from Messi's move to the midfield and the subsequent change in the formation are Ansu Fati, who has been promoted to the first team after a great debut season and Ousmane Dembélé, who is looking fully fit after a long time.

The Messi and Fati partnership is taking shape 🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/mi1QgZ0nzi

— Goal (@goal) February 7, 2020

The wingers can provide a lot of width going forward and Lionel Messi, who is known to provide sweet passes in the final third, can set them up perfectly in the box for scoring opportunities.

It is time for the youngsters in the squad to step up and show their true potential and with the kind of talent Fati and Dembélé possess, having Lionel Messi pulling the string in midfield will allow them to wreak havoc in the final third with their pace.

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