Antoine Griezmann's initial season with Barcelona was deemed a struggle, which was explained by new coach Ronald Koeman as the French forward playing in a less optimal position. Koeman, however, still deploys the 29-year-old on the flank and the player is quite uninspired of the prevailing situation.

France manager Didier Deschamps said Griezmann is unhappy at Barcelona. The World Cup winner is finding it hard to contribute to his club's cause, and that's because he is being used where his quality as a player is limited significantly, Deschamps said.

Koeman's gameplay in the season requires Griezmann to play wide and Deschamps said the France international is not exactly thriving. It was a struggle last season for the forward and as it turned, nothing has changed.

"For me, he is still more effective when he is in the heart of the game, when he is able to touch the ball a lot. In that position, he has the possibility to come and help in the midfield too," Goal reported the French coach as saying.

Deschamps pointed out that Griezmann will best shine playing in his natural position, where he can get the ball more often and the room is big for better maneuverings. The coach added that in his international duties, Griezmann gets to play "on a more orthodox role," which explains why the player can do better.

The coach said the Barcelona star is moving with a clear purpose on the pitch when playing with high regard for his typical position.

A related report from Forbes backed Deschamps' observation that as a winger, Griezmann is "woefully ineffective." The Frenchman failed to make an impact in the first few games of Barcelona in the ongoing campaign and due to the miserable performance, Koeman was forced to take out his No. 7.

The Barca boss has to make the adjustments for Griezmann to deliver to expectations but with the Barcelona strategy still focused on Lionel Messi and lately on Ansu Fati, it seemed remote that a recalibration is happening soon.

That being the case, the report suggested that Koeman should make a drastic move such as dropping Griezmann from the squad instead of letting the player limp on in games after games.

The situation contradicts the earlier vow made by Koeman that in making Griezmann Barcelona's No. 7, the Frenchman will play in his position of strength.

"You have to play in your role. This is where the most important part of a coach comes in, knowing your players well and getting the most out of them," Mirror reported the Barcelona coach as saying.

Koeman added that it was a mistake on Quique Setien's part, the man he replaced in August, to play Griezmann on the wing.