Thursday 23 September 2021

Knockout for Koeman in the evening?
The embarrassing new world of FC Barcelona

By Tobias Nordmann

Confrontation in Cadiz? This is how it should be for Ronald Koeman and his FC Barcelona. The coach is down and could lose his job this week. With a curious appearance during a media tour, he not only surprised reporters, but his boss as well.

It is very likely that Ronald Koeman will still be the coach of FC Barcelona at 10 p.m. this Thursday evening. But does this still apply when the sky approaches midnight? No one wants to make that prediction at the moment. It is arguably no exaggeration to say that the traditional Catalan club are currently on the move. The eighth table of the Primera Division of Cádiz CF is due to play this Thursday evening. The Andalusian coastal city team is seven places behind. The team is estimated at around 47 million euros. It’s the equivalent of a Memphis Depay. The Dutch striker plays for FC Barcelona. And should actually help replace Lionel Messi in some way.

The roles in this duel are therefore very clearly assigned. The only problem is that such laws are no longer valid in Blaugrana’s new world. Everything is different in the new world without Lionel Messi. Everything is hopeless, all somehow dreary and very threatening. Over the past few years, the club have gone to great lengths to extend their luck (and success) with the little Argentine again and again. You have to imagine it a bit like in a local bistro. The regular guest ignores the fact that the wallet is completely empty and the cover of the cover is too full. But because the regular guest has always launched local tours, he continues to do so. But then a new host comes in and asks for the bill. It is bitter and impossible because there is nothing more to put in your wallet.

In a way, FC Barcelona managed not to completely collapse after the departure of their superstar to Paris Saint-Germain. Despite the heavy burden of a billion euros in debt, the club continues to play football. In the national championship and also in the Champions League. In fact, that’s pretty good news. And one more message should actually make people happy. The potential of the team with the super talents Pedri and Ansu Fati is great. A new team could emerge in the medium term that will shape the club and lead to big titles. Just like the generation around Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Messi. The roster is actually still so good that it should be enough for a solid to good season. But that’s not what the club claims. It is still based on Messi standards. The short version: great football and even bigger hits.

Spectacular coaching candidates

The harsh truth these days, however, is very far from your own claim. FC Barcelona footballers stagger deeply helpless and uninspired through the matches. After the hopeless 3-0 victory against FC Bayern Munich at the start of the new season in the premier class, the hands of those concerned were already on the panic button. After the painstakingly saved draw against Granada CF on Monday, he was in a hurry. Coach Koeman, who is currently unable to implement a sovereign play idea for his team, has been able to read in the media that his coaching time is actually over. He was also allowed to read who could inherit from him. Joachim Löw and former Inter Milan head coach Antonio Conte. Or the legend of Italian player Andrea Pirlo, who recently failed as a coach at Juventus Turin. There is also speculation about club legend Xavi, who is currently preparing to return (as a coach) to Qatar. A few other less spectacular names were also traded.

Koeman didn’t like any of this. Of course, you don’t have to be surprised. But probably on how the Dutchman reacts to all the rattles. Before the game against Cadiz, he read a three-minute statement and then left the room without admitting questions from the puzzled reporters. Koeman asked for “patience” to rebuild the team. Given the club’s difficult situation, this must be done without major financial investment, that is to say without expensive acquisitions by experienced players. But there is also hope. “The young talents of today can become the new stars of the world in a few years”, he stressed.

Such bizarre coach appearances to the press have happened quite often. The result: They hardly ever went well with the club. And it’s probably the same in Barcelona, ​​even if President Joan Laporta was still a diplomat in a first press release. He told ‘Marca’ of Koeman’s dazzling performance: “He has an obligation to attend the press conference and can speak freely. Express as he sees fit. We respect the coach’s decision, but we and the captains only noticed it a short time ago. ”Between the lines you can see a little (or a lot) of dissatisfaction. Especially since the relationship between coach and boss should be anything but good.

What actually looked richly bizarre was not just Koeman’s appearance, but also many of the phrases he said. “The process our team is going through must be supported in word and deed. I know that the press recognizes this process because it is not the first time that this has happened in the history of FC Barcelona.” This recognition is not found in the written truth of most media. Some media prefer to poke fun at the fact that the 58-year-old last referred to the sacred passing game “Tiki Taka” as “Tiki Taki”. An embarrassing faux pas. Or an affront.

And the following sentence does not refer to the experience either: “As a team and the players, we are very happy with the support we received from the fans during the game against Granada.” In fact, the discontent in the stands grew louder and louder. Meanwhile, the Dutchman is also trying to overshadow the club’s goals so that they are fit for the current situation. He would already consider it a success if Barca could stay in the top of the league. In the Champions League, however, anything but “miracles” are to be expected this season. Is it enough to have more patience on your way? Rather not. If the team did not improve against Cadiz, Koeman’s days could be numbered, writes “La Vanguardia” newspaper.