Ernesto Valverde: 'Barcelona must ease in Ousmane Dembele'

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde has revealed that he played Ousmane Dembele in a central-attacking position against Celta Vigo in an attempt to ease the forward back into action.

  "It was so that he could play in a position where he was released of defensive obligations, which were a bit stressful at that time of the match," Valverde told reporters. "When we know that this was the first game of this player after almost four months without playing, I preferred that he be in a position where he can gradually get used to the game. "We must take into account that the pace of a whole match against a first division team. For Ousmane, it would have been excessive."