Jordi Alba is struggling at Barcelona. Once an untouchable first-teamer, he is now often out of the side.

Throughout the season, especially recently, it's clear there is a distance between what Luis Enrique wants from him and what the player is offering.

He isn't performing as well as the coach would like, not up to the standard of one of the top left-backs in the world.

The decline in performance is worrying, especially the staff and Robert Fernandez, because Alba is 28 and has a lot to offer still.

He is not as effective in attack, doesn't overload like he knows how, makes too many defensive errors.... although it's true he has had some very solid games too. The lack for consistency is what worries.

Alba himself is not happy at being left out for some of the biggest games of the seaosn. Without going further, he didn't play a single minute of the epic comeback against PSG.

That night Lucho went for three pure centre-backs. A tactic he repeated at Camp Nou vs Valencia. Alba didn't appear then either.

The defender is going through a new situation and he isn't used to being a substitute, bar when the rotations start - rotations to keep him fresh for the big games.