Ronald Koeman defended his decision to forsake Barcelona's attacking traditions and play more directly in the 1-1 draw at home to Granada on Monday - a match in which defender Gerard Pique was brought on as an emergency striker.
Koeman brought Pique, one of the club's most decorated and accomplished centre-backs, off the bench at Camp Nou to play up front alongside Luuk de Jong, with Ronald Araujo, another central defender, also thrown into the attack as Barca sent in 54 crosses in search of an equaliser.
Uruguay international Araujo finally headed home in injury-time after Domingos Duarte had given Granada an early lead but the boos and whistles at the final whistle from disgruntled Barcelona fans showed they were far from impressed with the point or how it was earned.
"We changed our style a little bit," Koeman said. "The spaces were out wide, not in the middle. We went with Pique, De Jong and Araujo and from one of those crosses we got the draw."
Koeman's position was already fragile after last week's 3-0 drubbing at home to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, a game in which his team failed to muster a shot on target.
The Dutchman, a stylish goalscoring defender during his playing days, knows only too well the expectations to adhere to Barca's passing principles having played almost 200 games for the club and been part of the club's 1992 'Dream Team' that lifted the European Cup.
Andy Mitten's Barca ratings
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Marc-Andre ter Stegen 6 - Stunned, but not at fault, by Granada’s quick opener. Tough night for him behind a young defence – and Granada’s opener wasn’t an isolated effort. Getty Images -
Sergino Dest 6 - Hit and miss. He played on the left, he played on the right. Excellent at times, but did the difficult stuff well, less so the easier stuff. Poor crosses. Getty Images -
Eric Garcia 6 - Awful against brilliant Bayern last week, he’s another player finding his way in this post-Messi side. Against a Granada side with just two points from their first four games and a side resting players, he was kept busy. Still to convince. Getty Images -
Ronald Araujo 9 - Aged just 22 and the most senior player in Barca’s extremely young defence. Also main threat in the first half, with two headers on target, one of them superbly saved. Still a threat in the second period and headed the equaliser. Getty Images -
Alejandro Balde 6 - Debut for the 18-year-old right-back, but it didn’t go to plan as he was taken off in the first half with a back problem. Fans booed the decision – a misunderstanding. Getty Images -
Frenkie De Jong. 5 - Ball sailed over his head for Granada’s opener after 88 seconds. Determined to right his wrong, but taken off at half time. Getty Images -
Sergio Busquets 5 - Tangled in the opening goal. The captain headed at goal after 45 minutes during a spell of sustained attacks. It was a sorry night for the Catalan before being substituted. Getty Images -
Sergi Roberto 5 - Replaced the injured ever present Pedri, hit the crossbar after 18 minutes. Off at half time but escaped being booed by his own fans. AFP -
Philippe Coutinho 5 - First competitive game in nine months which was always likely to be a struggle. The €160 million footballer was replaced by a 17-year-old after an hour. EPA -
Memphis Depay 7 - The sparse crowd chanted his name. shot over early on. An attempted overhead kick summed up Barça’s night – the ball sailed over him and he didn’t connect. Did connect with a shot after an hour but it went over. Isolated. Getty Images -
Yusuf Demir 6 - Another youngster, the 18-year-old Austrian can’t be blamed for what ex-player Pichi Alonso described as “Barça are just total chaos. Players all out of position, everyone just rushing forward.” Getty Images -
SUB: Oscar Mingueza 6 - On for the unfortunate Balde after 42 minutes. Booked after 76 as the crowd grew angry at Granada’s perceived time-wasting. AFP -
SUB: Luuk de Jong 5 - On for Sergi Roberto at half time. Unmarked and in front of goal after 79, but headed a fine chance over. You don’t miss those. EPA -
SUB: Gavi 7 - Seventeen-year-old goalscoring midfielder brought on for Coutinho after an hour. Assisted the equaliser with a cross. AFP -
SUB: Gerard Pique 6 - On for Demir after 75 to an encouraging roar from the tiny 27,000 crowd (the capacity was limited to 39,000). Pushed right up front in search of an equaliser which never came. You read that right, he played up front. Booked. Getty Images -
SUB: Riqui Puig 6 - On for Busquets after 74, a move which delighted the crowd. Getty Images
Barca are suffering an injury crisis and were unable to call on Ousmane Dembele, Martin Braithwaite, Pedri, Jordi Alba, Sergio Aguero and Ansu Fati for Monday's match.
The Catalans fielded a team featuring two 18-year-olds including a debut for defender Alejandro Balde before the youngster was replaced just before half time with a back complaint while 17-year-old midfielder Gavi was introduced off the bench as they chased an equaliser.
After the latest disappointment against lowly Granada, it was put to him that supporters were even angrier about Barcelona's style than the result.
"If you see the list of players, what do you do? Play tiki-taki? Tiki-taki when there are no spaces?" said Koeman.
"We did what we had to do. We tried to win another way. We don't have players one-on-one or with speed. We're talking ... I'm not going to say more because it seems I have to argue about everything."
