TheNewsGuru

Tag: koeman

  • 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.

  • Laporta talks too much, says Barca coach Koeman

    Laporta talks too much, says Barca coach Koeman

    Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has hit out at president Joan Laporta.

    Koeman was left upset by Laporta demanding a certain approach to team selection regarding La Masia talent.

    Speaking with NOS, Koeman said: “My relationship with Laporta has improved.

    “But last week something happened that I consider bad. He suggested that the coach does not have all the powers. He has talked too much. This can be done in private.

    “I like it when a president gets involved and also asks questions. Only that it shouldn’t be in the press, that was the problem”

  • Messi couldn’t understand how Koeman treated me at Barca – Pjanic

    Messi couldn’t understand how Koeman treated me at Barca – Pjanic

    Besiktas signing Miralem Pjanic has again taken aim at Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman.

    Pjanic left Barca for Besiktas last week on a season-long loan.

    “Besiktas wanted me strongly in the last days of the transfer market and I couldn’t stay in Barcelona with Koeman, I would have lost another year and I didn’t want to,” Pjanic told Tuttosport.

    “Koeman had an attitude with me that no one understood, not even [Lionel] Messi. Leo, last year, told me several times: ‘But why doesn’t he let you play? Has something happened?.

    “Besiktas are the Turkish champions, they are in the Champions League and… they have a black and white jersey. They welcomed me in a great way, it will be another great challenge.”

  • Pjanic wasn’t good enough – Koeman

    Pjanic wasn’t good enough – Koeman

    Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has dismissed criticism from Miralem Pjanic.

    Pjanic accused Koeman of treating him poorly last season as he left on-loan for Besiktas.

    But Koeman responded to this Pjanic’s comments, defending himself.

    “I think there’s some frustration on the player’s part and I understand that,” Koeman told Mundo Deportivo.

    “However, in terms of how we play, our ideas with and without the ball, he’s fallen short of other midfielders.

    “That’s it. I wish him all the best. It’s been complicated, but we tried and we saw that there are other players who are better than him.”

  • Why I approved Griezmann exit from Barca – Koeman

    Why I approved Griezmann exit from Barca – Koeman

    Barcelona head coach, Ronald Koeman has revealed why he approved the loan move of France international Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid, TheNewsGuru reports.

    The World Cup winner left the La Liga giant on transfer deadline day.

    Koeman remarked: “It’s true, but you have to listen to the club and support it at a delicate time in terms of money. Griezmann is a Barca player with a very high contract and for the club it was very, very, very important to let him return to Atlético and not pay more for a three-year contract. And you, as a coach, say you want to help the club, but you need another striker.

    “Antoine’s position is difficult for us to cover, but above all to help the club financially, it was important for him to leave.

    “I was not adamant in that sense, because I could have said, ‘No, he won’t move from here’. Yes, it was the same for Griezmann, but with the aggravating circumstance that it happened on the last day, with hardly any time to find a solution. It was a shame. Griezmann had a big contract and if he left he was going to help improve the club’s economic situation. That’s why I accepted his departure.”

  • LaLiga: I have too many players at Barca – Koeman

    LaLiga: I have too many players at Barca – Koeman

    Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has concerns with his oversized squad.

    Barcelona have been unable to compete in the transfer market due to the financial pressures placed upon them from the previous administration, while they haven’t even been able to move on the players that they wanted to.

    “It’s impossible to have 32 players in the squad,” Koeman explained in his press conference.

    “I have done the coaching courses, but not with 32 players.

    “The club knows who I want and with whom I want to continue working, but I respect all the players who have a contract.

    “Each player knows who we have and who will have difficulties playing.”

  • Why I want to keep Coutinho at Barca – Koeman

    Why I want to keep Coutinho at Barca – Koeman

    Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman says he’ll be counting on Philippe Coutinho this season.

    There’s been talk of Coutinho being offered to Premier League clubs this summer.

    However, Koeman insists: “Philippe is not there because I think he needs another week to train with the group.

    “I’m counting on him because I think he’s a great player. He can be important for Barcelona. I’m really counting on him this season.

    “Coutinho can play in different positions. We lost a lot of goals with (Lionel) Messi leaving and we have to get them from others. Philippe is one of them.”

  • Ronald Koeman called Abraham ahead of Roma switch

    Ronald Koeman called Abraham ahead of Roma switch

    Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman made an attempt to sign Tammy Abraham before his move to Roma today.

    Abraham has left Chelsea in a €40m deal for Serie A side Roma and former Blues boss Jose Mourinho, but Sky Italia reports Barcelona also tried to lure the England forward to the Nou Camp this transfer window.

    “It got as far as he Barca manager, Ronald Koeman, ringing up Abraham to try to convince him to move to Barcelona,” Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol told The Transfer Show.

    “In the end he had spoken to Mourinho at Roma and met their general manager, and had been so impressed with what they had to say that he turned down Barca to sign for them.”

    Abraham was unveiled by Roma today.

  • We must move on from difficult Messi exit – Koeman

    We must move on from difficult Messi exit – Koeman

    Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman admits they cannot dwell on Lionel Messi’s departure.

    Messi and Barcelona have parted company after over 20 years together, but Koeman has made it clear that there’s no time to dwell on the loss of their captain, and talisman.

    “It’s normal that when a player like Messi leaves, it’s hard for everyone, but we have to move on because we can’t change the situation,” Koeman said after their Joan Gamper Trophy defeat of Juventus.

    “We have to play well, win and work even harder. There are other players who can play in his position and play an important role in the team.

    “We don’t have Leo now, though. We have to move on and look forward.”

    The Dutchman did give Barcelona fans reason to be optimistic heading into next season.

    “We’ve signed Memphis Depay, who has shown today that he can be really effective,” Koeman explained.

    “The midfielders need to score more and the squad needs to improve. The best player in the world will always be missed, but you have to accept it and get to work.

    “It’s no use dwelling on the past. There’s a lot of promise in this team.”

    Koeman was happy with the performance of his Barcelona side ahead of the start of the new campaign.

    “It’s a really good result. Football wise, we reached a really good level,” Koeman said.

    “Neto was very good and we’ve taken another step forward. The boys who were at the Olympics still have to return, so when we have everyone back, it’ll be better.

    “We’re on the right track to competing well in the first match.”

  • Difficult to understand Messi has left – Koeman

    Difficult to understand Messi has left – Koeman

    Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman is sorry seeing Lionel Messi leave.

    Koeman has spoken publicly about Messi’s departure. Taking to social media, he posted a thoughtful message alongside a couple of photos of the two together.

    The full message is as follows:

    “Still hard to understand that you will not play for FC Barcelona any more. Thanks for everything you have done for our club, Leo. I really enjoyed the full season we worked together. I am impressed with your work ethic and desire to win. It makes you the best player in the world. For now, I wish you and your family the best”.