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Tag: Barca

  • Fati scores as Barca win eases pressure on Koeman

    Fati scores as Barca win eases pressure on Koeman

    Barcelona eased some pressure on absent manager Ronald Koeman with a comfortable La Liga victory over winless Levante at the Nou Camp.

    Memphis Depay’s sixth-minute penalty gave Barcelona the lead after the Dutch forward was fouled by Nemanja Radoja.

    Compatriot Luuk de Jong then raced on to Sergino Dest’s pass to score his first goal since joining on a season-long loan from Sevilla.

    Substitute Ansu Fati hit the third on his return from a long-term injury.

    Barcelona climb to fifth in La Liga and are five points behind leaders Real Madrid with a game in hand. Real were held by Villarreal on Saturday.

    The pressure had been growing on manager Koeman after two wins from five La Liga matches this season had left them well adrift of the early pacesetters.

    And although Koeman was absent from the dugout on Sunday, having been dismissed for dissent in Thursday’s goalless draw with Cadiz, his players had little trouble in putting an end to a three-game winless run in all competitions.

    Levante failed to register a shot until the 81st minute, while Depay was thwarted by several good saves from Aitor Fernandez.

    A return and goal for 18-year-old Fati – wearing Lionel Messi’s number 10 shirt on his first appearance since November 2020 after undergoing knee surgery – completed a fine success.

  • Barca president Laporta and board split on Xavi

    Barca president Laporta and board split on Xavi

    Barcelona president Joan Laporta and his board are split on Al Sadd coach Xavi as Ronald Koeman’s successor.

    Sport says Xavi is the preferred option to replace Koeman for many of the Barcelona board, but he’s not Laporta’s first pick.

    The Barça president was keen for Xavi to return to the club as B team coach, like Pep Guardiola did, but it’s not something the club’s former captain will consider.

    For now, as revealed on Wednesday in SPORT, Belgium coach Roberto Martinez is the candidate Laporta is most in favour of.

    Months ago, Laporta made it clear he wasn’t convinced Xavi was ready for the first team: “He needs a bit more experience. That’s what the club needs. It’s the same as we did with Rijkaard, who laid the foundations, and Guardiola, who brought excellence. This situation requires experience.”

  • Koeman sent off as Barca play goalless draw

    Koeman sent off as Barca play goalless draw

    The pressure continued to grow on Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman after his side were held to a frustrating goalless draw at lowly Cadiz.

    Frenkie de Jong’s red card saw the visitors play the last 25 minutes with 10 men, with Koeman dismissed in the dying seconds for dissent.

    Barcelona now have just two wins from five La Liga matches as speculation mounts over Koeman’s future.

    Memphis Depay went closest for Barca, miskicking from just yards out.

    But it could have been worse for a visiting side lacking any creativity, as they needed goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to pull off several impressive saves late on.

    Koeman was left furious after two harsh yellow cards for De Jong in four minutes after the break led to Cadiz creating numerous late chances to win the game, having defended deep for the majority.

    Alvaro Negredo, Salvi Sanchez and Anthony Lozano were all denied by Ter Stegen, while at the other end Depay was guilty of squandering several good opportunities for a Barcelona side lacking in quality but full of fight.

    The frustration got the better of Koeman in injury time as he was sent from the sidelines for arguing against a late booking for Sergio Busquets.

  • Barca board discussing Thierry Henry to replace Koeman

    Barca board discussing Thierry Henry to replace Koeman

    Former Barcelona striker Thierry Henry has emerged as a candidate for Ronald Koeman’s job at Camp Nou.

    Henry is currently assistant coach with Belgium and Mundo Deportivo says his name has been raised inside Barca as a replacement for Koeman.

    Despite his struggles with AS Monaco and Montreal Impact, Henry is regarded highly at Barca after his time with the club.

    It’s been suggested Koeman could be sacked if Barca lose tonight against Cadiz.

    For his part, Henry has stated he’s happy to keep the door open to a return to club management while working for Belgium.

  • Ronald Koeman walks out of news conference

    Ronald Koeman walks out of news conference

    Ronald Koeman did not answer questions at an FC Barcelona news conference on Wednesday, instead reading out an earlier prepared statement.

    FC Barcelona were held to a 1-1 draw by Granada at Camp Nou on Monday, with Koeman’s team resorting to desperate measures to rescue a point courtesy of centre-back Ronald Araujo.

    With Lionel Messi having left due to Barca’s dire financial circumstances, the Blaugrana also allowed Antoine Griezmann to rejoin Atletico Madrid late in August.

    They now look far off mounting a title challenge in LaLiga this season.

    The club also lost their opening UEFA Champions League match, going down 0-3 to Bayern Munich.

    Koeman seems to be under mounting pressure, with president Joan Laporta reportedly keen to replace the Dutchman.

    Roberto Martinez has been touted as a potential replacement.

    However, reports suggest Koeman would be set for a large pay-off should he be dismissed, casting doubt over Barca’s ability to change coach.

    Koeman was set to face the media on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s league meeting with Cadiz, but instead he refused to answer questions and read from a statement.

    In the statement, he urged Barca fans to have patience with the process and insisted that the club’s hierarchy was behind him.

    “Good morning everyone, the club is with me in a situation of rebuilding,” Koeman said.

    “The financial situation of the club is linked to the sporting activities and vice versa, and this means that we have to rebuild the team without being able to make any big financial investments.

    “This needs time, the young talent today can end up being the next big stars in just the next few years. The good thing is that young people will be able to have opportunities like Xavi and [Andres] Iniesta had in their day, but we must ask for patience.

    “What’s more, to remain in a high ranking position in LaLiga would be a success, this is a great footballing school for this talent.

    “In the Champions League you cannot expect miracles. The defeat against Bayern Munich must be taken from this perspective.

    “The process that we’re in right now, the staff deserves unconditional support in words and in actions. I know the press recognise this process, it’s not the first time in FC Barcelona’s history that this has happened.

    “We count on your support in these difficult times. We as a squad and players are very happy with the support we had from the fans like we had against Granada.”

    Heading into Thursday’s match, Barca have failed to win five of their last eight LaLiga games (W3 D4 L1).

    This is as many as in their previous 24 matches in the competition (W19 D3 L2).

    They also have poor recent history against Cadiz, failing to win in their last two LaLiga games against the Andalusian side (D1 L1).

    If they do not win this match, it will be their longest winless run against them in the competition.

  • Koeman on hot seat as Barca struggle to late draw

    Koeman on hot seat as Barca struggle to late draw

    Ronald Araujo’s injury-time header rescued a point for Barcelona against Granada, but it does little to paper over the cracks of another poor home display from Ronald Koeman’s side.

    Centre-back Araujo – playing as a makeshift striker – found the net right at the end of a half Barca dominated.

    But having being humbled by Bayern in the Champions League last week, it will do little to lift spirits.

    Granada had led from the second minute through Domingos Duarte’s header.

    And they will be disappointed not to have picked up a first win of the season – and second victory in two seasons at the Nou Camp – after dealing so well with the home side’s aerial bombardment.

    However, It was reported earlier by pundit José Alvarez that Laporta could take “drastic action” if Barca flop against Granada.

    If Barca produce an “underwhelming” performance, Laporta is prepared to dismiss Koeman.

  • Laporta to take ‘drastic’ decision if Barca lose tonight

    Laporta to take ‘drastic’ decision if Barca lose tonight

    Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman’s job is on the line tonight against Granada.

    Koeman is under huge pressure after last week’s home defeat to Champions League opponents Bayern Munich.

    Barca president Joan Laporta has been encouraged by members of the board to sack Koeman, though he has so far refused to pull the trigger.

    However, speaking on El Chiringuito, pundit José Alvarez reports Laporta could take “drastic action” if Barca flop against Granada tonight.

    If Barca produce an “underwhelming” performance, Laporta is prepared to dismiss Koeman.

  • I’m not worried about my Barca future – Koeman

    I’m not worried about my Barca future – Koeman

    Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has revealed that he is not scared of losing his job ahead of Granada game.

    “I’m only thinking about the match and the team,” the Dutch said.

    “The rest is out of my hands. I’m relaxed and confident about winnings matches. We need to get some players back so we have more guys to choose from, but I know that we have to win. The results are what count.

    “I’m not worried about my future. The club and the president will make the decisions”.

    Injuries have meant Barcelona are short for options in the left-back position, but Koeman isn’t concerned.

    “We have [Alejandro] Balde, who played well the other day with quality and energy,” he assured the fans.

    “We also have [Sergino] Dest and [Oscar] Mingueza, but I prefer a natural left-back. Balde is young and has to learn, but I’m not scared to start him.”

    He was also asked about how the fans’ perceive what is going on at the club.

    “I don’t know what they’re thinking,” said the Dutchman.

    “There will be realists, opportunists and some who are unhappy with the current situation.”

  • Laporta fumes as Koeman given three matches to save Barca job

    Laporta fumes as Koeman given three matches to save Barca job

    Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman is fighting to keep his job after this week’s home defeat to Bayern Munich.

    Koeman is under pressure after Barca suffered a 3-0 Champions League loss in a week that he hit out publicly at president Joan Laporta.

    Laporta held crisis talks with vice-president Rafa Yuste with technical director Matteo Alemany immediately after the game, with the meeting not breaking up until after 2am.

    El Confidencial says Laporta is at the end of his patience with Koeman and is prepared to sack the Dutchman.

    It’s suggested Koeman has three games to save his job, with Granada, Cadiz and Levante all to come for the Catalans. How his team performs over these three LaLiga matches will decide Koeman’s fate.

    But at the moment, Laporta is leaning towards axing his coach, with his deal expiring in June.

  • UCL: Muller haunts Barca again at Camp Nou

    UCL: Muller haunts Barca again at Camp Nou

    Goals from Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski settled a battle of the big two in Champions League Group E as Bayern Munich claimed a dominant opening-game victory at Barcelona.

    The German champions controlled the game, with Muller scoring his seventh career goal against Barca courtesy of a first-half effort that found the net off Eric Garcia’s back.

    Lewandowski made sure of the win with a typical predatory finish, poking his 74th Champions League goal into an empty net after Jamal Musiala’s drive had cannoned back off the post.

    His 75th came late in the game, as he once again showed his talent in front of goal with a lashed finish after Serge Gnabry’s shot had come back off the post and fell to him in the box.

    Barca, playing their first Champions League since the departure of talisman Lionel Messi, were flat and offered little, failing to muster a single shot on target.

    They ended the game with four teenagers on the pitch, which did at least inject some urgency and lift a subdued crowd of just short of 40,000 because of Covid-19 restrictions.

    They were still thoroughly outclassed, though, and by a Bayern team that were not even at their best.

    The German side lead the group, with the other game, between Benfica and Dinamo Kiev, finishing 0-0.