Koeman’s Barcelona future on the line
The Barcelona press highlight that Ronald Koeman's future at Camp Nou will depend on results in upcoming games.
While Barcelona continue to back Ronald Koeman in public, it appears the Dutch coach’s days could be numbered at Camp Nou depending how upcoming results go.
According to reports in the Catalan press, next month will prove decisive for Koeman’s future, following the humiliating 0-3 defeat to Bayern Munich at Camp Nou on Tuesday.
Koeman lost part of the credit he had left due to his game plan against Bayern. Sport reports the players were surprised by the Dutchman's tactical rigidity given the clear evidence that things were not working for his team in the first half.
Big games ahead for Koeman
Mundo Deportivo points out that Barcelona's sporting direction maintains its confidence in the Dutchman. But they also highlight the importance of the upcoming LaLiga games against Granada, Cádiz, Levante, and the trip to the Wanda to face Atlético Madrid, which all come before the Cláscio on 24 October.
Before Altético, of course, comes the decisive meeting with Benfica, a game which will be key to deciding Barça’s faith in a Champions League group stage where, for the first time in many years, the club is not guaranteed qualification.
"Doubts are growing,” reads L'Esportiu’s headline. "Tense calm,” reads Sport’s front page title, citing Koeman's apparent serenity amid growing doubts surrounding the viability of his position. But despite his calmness, the Dutchman must be acutely aware that his position will depend greatly on how the results go in the coming weeks.
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“Outraged” Laporta vows to “fix” Barcelona situation
The Dutchman tried to sell the idea that, due to the tremendous number of injuries, the Bayern game does not serve as a true barometer of Barcelona’s current situation (following Tuesday’s game, Jordi Alba and Pedri were also added to the casualty list).
But Joan Laporta thinks otherwise. In a video he sent out on Wednesday, the Barça president said he was “outraged” by Tuesday's result. He made no reference to the coach, but vowed to “fix” the situation.
It is clear that Koeman is once again in an uncomfortable position. And although his dismissal would be expensive and it is not at all clear what replacement could be on the market beyond Xavi, the Dutchman’s future is very much on the line over the next run of matches.