Jordi Alba has dropped hints he’s not exactly happy with being left out of the starting XI as Barcelona have switched to a 3-4-3 formation. But regardless of form, there is a good reason for his exclusion: he doesn’t quite fit the new system, which eliminated his natural position from the teamsheet.
Luis Enrique has used Alba primarily as a left-sided centerback in this formation, though more than that, Alba has just been on the bench.
As a center-back, Alba covers a lot of territory but he’s clearly not as good in the air or as solid defensively in general as the man he replaces, Samuel Umtiti.