Koeman oversees poorest Barcelona season start since 1971
No other debutant coach has overseen a more disappointing start for the Catalan side since 1971 with Van Gaal equalling Koeman's start in his second spell in the 2002-03 season.
With two wins (against Villarreal and Celta), two draws (against Sevilla and Alavés) and two defeats to Getafe and Real Madrid, it's been a poor start for Ronald Koeman and his FC Barcelona side with the biggest budget in the division of more than 800 million euro. Players such as Busquets, Piqué, Alba and Messi are far from their best and questions marks are already hanging over the Dutch coach.
The FC Barcelona Wembley hero has been brave in blooding new younger players with Ansu Fati and Pedri impressing under the new manager but as Koeman knows, football management at the highest level is all about securing results.
1971/72
Koeman's results to date are the poorest by any debutant coach since the 1971-72 season when Rinus Michels took over from Vic Buckingham with the Barça side then featuring the likes of Asensi, Rexach and Sadurní. The Catalan side started that campaign witgh a 3-0 win over Real Sociedad only to follow it up with losses to Espanyol (3-0), at home to Las Palmas (1-2) and then lose at El Molinón to Sporting (1-0). They then forged two draws agaisnt Atlético (0-0) and against Real Betis which amounted tlo four points in that era with two points for a win.
The start to the 2002-03 season was also particularly negative for the Camp Nou outfit under Louis Van Gaal who was back for his second spell as Barça boss. His side recorded just 8 points in the first six games and the Dutch coach was eventually sacked halfway through the season.