Sergiño Dest's debut as a starter in the Barcelona team

Sergiño Dest fulfilled the dream of any soccer player: to make his debut as a starter for Barcelona. However, the result was not as expected.

It was against Betis that Xavi, the current coach of Barcelona decided to put Dest as a starter in the lineup, however, his team would end up losing the match. 

The defeat of the Blaugranas 1-0 at Camp Nou resounded throughout the Spanish press, because the team has not found its way for several tournaments. 

Dest's return to the field after an injury

Sergiño Dest could finally return to Barcelona starting eleven after a month. FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández confirmed in his press conference prior to the match against Real Betis that the U.S. full-back was now 100% fit after overcoming the lower back problems that have affected him in recent weeks. 

The last time Sergiño Dest took the field was last October 30 in the match that the Blaugranas played against Alavés at Camp Nou and that ended with 1-1 on the scoreboard. 

Since then, Dest had only been able to play four minutes, those he played against Benfica in the Champions League at the Camp Nou in the match played on November 23, entering the field in the 86th minute replacing Lenglet. 

How was Sergiño's debut as a starter against Betis?

Although it was his debut as a starter, Dest did not have the best game with Barcelona. For example, most of his decisions on the field were wrong, both defensively and offensively. 

In the first 45 minutes of the game he was unable to coordinate with his teammates Abde and Nico. It was not until the second half that, after Xavi's observations, the defender would improve his performance on the field. 

The coach of the Culés integrated Ousmane Dembélé on the right flank to support Dest and sent Abde to the left flank. All this with the aim of pushing his team more in the attack. 

Although the U.S. defender's performance improved against Betis in the second half, this does not take responsibility away from Dest in the play that led to the visitors' goal. 

In that play, Mexican player Andrés Guardado saw Canales unmarked during a counterattack, so he served him a filtered pass directly into the opponent's box. Sergiño Dest arrived late to defend and could only watch when, after a series of passes, Juanmi gave Betis the 1-0 victory.

Is Sergiño Dest's chance at Barcelona over? 

The Spanish press is already speculating about the possibility that the United States right back will be discarded by Barcelona and sold at the first opportunity. 

This version is based on the fact that Dest has not yet adapted to the game plan that Xavi wants to implement at Barcelona. 

The problem, according to sports analysts, is that Dest is a right back who is characterized by overflowing and generating unbalance, but in the coach's scheme there are already players who fulfill that function. For example Yusuf Demir or Dembélé himself.