LIONEL MESSI and Luis Suarez are both supportive of the reason Ousmane Dembele was an unused substitute in Barcelona's win over Atletico Madrid, according to reports.
The French winger did not come off the bench as Barca claimed a huge 1-0 win that puts them eight points clear at the top of La Liga on Sunday.
Instead, misfit Andre Gomes came on to play 54 minutes on the left side of midfield after Andres Iniesta's injury - despite the role appearing a natural fit for Dembele.
And Spanish outlet Diario Goal say that the summer signing was bemused by manager Ernesto Valverde's decision to leave him on the sidelines, to the point that he did not join in the post-match celebrations with his team-mates at Camp Nou.
They report that the reason behind the former Borussia Dortmund forward's absence is down to Valverde's frustrations over his poor work-rate.
Valverde has introduced a 4-4-2 formation this season with Barca's wide men expected to fulfil defensive duties as well offer offensive threat in his system.
But the manager feels that 20-year-old Dembele is not doing enough to help out the team, and that is an opinion said to be shared by kingpins Messi and Suarez.
The South American pair are both well aware of Valverde's demands and believe that all of Barca's starting eleven must press and run regardless of their positions.
Diario Gol even suggest that Messi and Suarez believe Dembele has not yet adapted to his new role and that he still has the attitude he had when playing for German club Dortmund, where he had more freedom.
Messi is the only player who is forgiven for forsaking defensive responsibilities under Valverde and the duo believe that unless Dembele changes his game, he faces many months sat on the bench.
The £135.5 million addition, who scored 10 goals and added 21 assists in all competitions for Dortmund last season, has only made 10 appearances for Barca so far and has yet to score for his new club.
A thigh tendon rupture in September sidelined him for nearly four months before he suffered another muscle problem soon after his return in January.
Since regaining full fitness, Dembele has started just once, come off the bench twice and remained an unused sub in wins against Atletico and Eibar.
Dembele was Barca's club-record addition before Philippe Coutinho's £142 million January arrival.
But while Coutinho has reportedly earned the respect of full-backs Sergi Roberto and Jordi Alba for carrying out the defensive work expected of him, Diario Gol say Coutinho's presence is not a factor in Dembele's lack of recent minutes.
Barcelona face Chelsea in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday night after drawing 1-1 in London a fortnight ago.
And Dembele will hope to be involved with former Liverpool man Coutinho cup-tied and Iniesta having gone off injured against Atletico on Sunday.
