Koeman publicly criticises and punishes Nico Gonzalez

Barcelona lost again, victims of their defensive errors in the first half against Atletico Madrid. Ronald Koeman didn't hide his anger in his box at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano as he watched on while serving his two-match touchline ban for being sent off against Cadiz.

The Dutch coach turned over in his seat after the move which saw Thomas Lemar give Atletico a 1-0 lead. It was a move which ended up costing Nico Gonzalez his place, as he was taken off at halftime.

"You can't leave so much space when we lose the ball and in midfield we need to track our marker, but Nico left Lemar alone," Koeman said after the match.

"Maybe now you understand why sometimes we've played with three at the back.

"In midfield you have to follow your man and, if they have depth, even more so.

"At 1-0 it became very complicated."

Nico, son of former Deportivo La Coruna player Fran Gonzalez, started in central midfield, adding to his 130 minutes across four previous LaLiga Santander appearances.

The 19-year-old has been used by Koeman to cover the team's weaknesses, much like other youngsters Gavi and Yusuf Demir.

That trust may have been misplaced, or so it seems listening to the coach's words.

On social media, Catalan fans and journalists criticised Koeman for his attitude towards one of La Masia's young stars, while remaining silent on how the team's veterans how didn't have their best night either.