Ronald Koeman is set to take over as manager of Barcelona just two days after the Spanish club sacked Luis Enrique in favor of the Dutchman. Koeman replaces the sacked Enrique after just six months in charge, having guided Everton to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League. After replacing Roberto Martinez in the summer of 2017, Koeman led Everton to two victories in the Audi Cup against Bayern Munich in early August, before the Netherlands were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the European Championship.
Superstar duo Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi are making their exit from Barcelona, but the club’s other star players are about to make a statement that could help propel them to a third consecutive Liga title. Ronald Koeman has high expectations for his side as they bid to become the best team in Spain this season.
After a disappointing campaign in the Champions League last season, the club’s major competitors in La Liga, Atletico Madrid, have returned to form in 2016-2017.. Read more about ronald koeman and let us know what you think.
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Despite losing Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann during the summer transfer window, Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman believes the team can accomplish “great things” this season.
Koeman acknowledged that losing Messi was a setback, but said that the club can develop in other ways without him, urging new acquisition Memphis Depay to usher in a new era at Camp Nou. Depay scored a hat trick for the Netherlands on Tuesday.
In an interview with the Catalan newspapers Diario Sport and Mundo Deportivo, the Dutchman also revealed that he is in negotiations to extend his contract, which expires in 2022.
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“There are always things to improve,” Koeman said of Barcelona’s prospects this season after the transfer window closed. “But I’ll tell you one thing: if we have everyone available, we can achieve great things.”
“We have a fantastic group of people working with us. We must be realistic; the road ahead will be tough, but I am hopeful and ambitious.”
Apart from Memphis, Barcelona added Sergio Aguero, Eric Garcia, and Luuk de Jong to the team this summer without having to pay any transfer money.
De Jong brings a “new profile” to the attack, according to Koeman, but it is Memphis, who came on a free transfer from Lyon, who is causing the most buzz at Camp Nou.
The Netherlands international has two goals in his first three games for Barca, who have seven points from nine LaLiga games. He also scored three goals in his country’s 6-1 victory against Turkey this week, although afterwards calling his effort “sloppy.”
“Memphis has the potential to usher in a new era at Barca,” Koeman remarked. “He possesses two qualities that are critical to his success here: personality and character. There’s something unusual about him, and the challenge of being here motivates him.”
Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has said that the club will adapt to life without Lionel Messi. Photo courtesy of Getty Images/David Ramos
Following Messi’s move to Paris Saint-Germain in August, President Joan Laporta stated earlier this week that Memphis No. 9 jerseys are now the club’s best-selling item.
Given more time to process the loss of the six-time World Player of the Year, Koeman is now concentrating on the areas where Barca are a stronger team without him rather than the ones where they are worse.
“It was a big setback,” stated the coach. “We had made preparations for the season with him.” We’ve lost a lot, and it’s taken a few days to get things back on track, but we must now turn the page and rebuild the team.
“Losing Messi does not force us to change our tactics, but there are areas where the squad can develop without the ball. We won’t have Leo’s particular qualities, but the team is stronger today in terms of pushing and structure.”
Barca’s pay bill was 110 percent of income when Messi left, but it’s now down to 80 percent, closer to the 70 percent required by LaLiga’s spending restrictions, despite the club’s gross debt being at €1.35 billion.
Koeman, who took over as Barcelona manager in 2020, also stated that the club met with his agency two weeks ago and offered him a one-year contract extension, but no more discussions have taken place.
“Of course,” he continued, “I want to renew.” “Despite the difficulties that exist at the club at the present, I would want to remain the coach of Barca for a long time. But, as a result of our choices, Barca now has young players with bright futures, and I want to continue managing them in the next three, four, or five years.”
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