Normally players who aren't part of the coach's match day squad go to the Camp Nou early to be with their teammates, listen to the coach's team talk in the dressing room and try to be as close as possible to the rest of the squad.
That was done, for example, by Lionel Messi in El Clasico on October 28 and in the game against Inter in the Champions League.
On the eve of Sunday's game against Real Betis, Ernesto Valverde made the decision to leave Ousmane Dembele out of his squad for not turning up to training on Thursday, citing an illness that the coach didn't even mention in his pre-match press conference.
The Frenchman was expected to be at the Camp Nou to encourage his teammates.
He did so but as has been the case so often with him, he wasn't on time for doing so.
Punctuality is not the strength of the former Borussia Dortmund man, as Gerard Pique pointed out a few months ago.
He arrived just as the game was about to kick off, showing up five minutes before Mateu Lahoz signalled the start of proceedings.
At first, he was not sat in the area near the Barcelona dugout which is reserved for technical staff but eventually found a seat in that section.
He sported a rather curious look too, wearing metallic glasses and a hat despite the 19 degree temperature.
houabcikp
247
Why Barcelona fighting this little boy? Every negative thing about Barcelona is caused by Dembelee. Today he did not play, he was the caused of Barcelona defeat. Dembelee is not in peace at all how do you expect him to satisfy you? Please allow Dembelee to go so as to live in peace. Why trouble one person everyday? If you want for Dembelee to satisfy you,please be moderate with him. We love him.
Leubdotuyz
172
Barca suffer a defeat today dembelle wasn't part of the time and why the ads his name is to be mention here dembelle have nothing to do with our lost today blame the rest of the players when Messi not around everybody work there asses off why when Messi is no into the team we just relax and put all the pressure on him why not play like we played when he was absent my god am not even going to blame the coach either because I never trust him we were just no good at all today I pretty sure dembelle was there we would of got a couple good assets or 2 goals from him I know he would of dribble himself into that box and make something from nothing so ride the ass off dembelle let him live his life.
chekwasi
146
Why always Dembere? instead of them to be bringing reports on how to tackle this our defensive problem, they are now talking about Dembere who is not even on the pitch. Had he be on the pitch, they could have accuse him of been the reason for their loosing and now they are still trying to make him the scape goat🐐. Dembere why always you??
Bibs94
131
Now, Dembele’s late entry caused Barça to lose the game!
PiaPiaOfficial
131
You’re criticizing Dembele too much imagine at the beginning of the season he is smart but suddenly the coach stop picking him and turn to Arthur and later he only get limited time to play and he’s just 21 how can he not react madly
whitedeath
72
He could have done something he has scored winners dembele
RealMd13
66
😂😂 whats your next post going to be about 1 dembele is late at his house 2 dembele slept late 3 dembele let to reply valverde sms 😂 dang Leave the boy alone I didnt see U go hard on Neymar like this