Madrid, Feb 10 (IANS): FC Barcelona sacked B-team coach Eusebio Sacristan following a run of results which has left the side battling to avoid relegation from the second division (Liga Adelante) to the third tier of Spanish league football.

Eusebio's sacking Monday comes on the back of a 0-4 defeat to Zaragoza at the weekend which leaves Barcelona B in 17th position in the league, just two points above the relegation zone, reports Xinhua.

The defeat in Zaragoza comes on the back of other heavy losses such as a 0-7 humiliation away to Valladolid and it was rumoured the coach had a poor relation with some of the young players in the squad.

The former Barcelona and Valladolid midfielder had been in the role since 2011, replacing the current first team coach, Luis Enrique, when he left to coach Italian club Roma.

Eusebio will now be replaced by Juvenil A team (U-19 Barcelona) coach Jordi Vinyals, who has worked previously with several players who now form part of the B-team.

Given the fact that Barcelona will not be able to sign any players this coming summer as the result of a FIFA ban regarding irregularities over foreign players for their youth system, the B-team is especially important as the club will be looking to some squad members to be able to step up into the first team for next season.

Should Barca-B suffer relegation to the Segunda B (the third tier of Spanish football), the step up to the BBVA Primera Liga is obviously more complicated than if the side maintains its position in the second tier of the Spanish game.