Ronald Koeman has also slammed Joan Laporta for not backing his work while at the helm of Barcelona.
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman still holds a grudge against Joan Laporta for sacking him as Barcelona coach after leading the Catalan giants to the Copa del Sol. Rey before that, but the Barca president did not back his work like he did with Xavi Hernandez, according to a report from ‘UFABET Sport’ on Friday.
Koeman took over the reins of Barcelona from Enrique Setien in the summer of 2020 on a two-year contract. He led the Azulgrana to the Copa del Rey in his first season in charge. But the Dutch boss was fired from his position by Laporta, ยูฟ่าเบท who returned to serve as president of the club in October 2021, before appointing Xavi as the new coach.
‘Yes, I have said it before. I didn’t have the support of the club president like Xavi did. I was fired at the time. And I think we were nine points behind Madrid and now they are 10 points behind.’
‘To be successful You have to have the support of the club president,’ Koeman said.
Koeman also admits that coaching at Barcelona is the hardest job of his career. But the 61-year-old still believes Barca fans will remember his work as a player.
‘Barca fans remember me. And they will remember me as the guy who scored the goal that led the club to its first European Cup title,’ Koeman said. ‘I just didn’t have the support of the club president.’
The Dutch coach also criticized his former club for spending a lot of money on Robert Lewandowski, both on transfer fees and wages, even though the player is 35 years old.
‘I think he came for the big money. And if you have financial problems You need to carefully analyze the type of player you are signing. Maybe it would be better to sign a player with a better future.’
‘In my opinion, it’s rare for a player to get their best salary at 35, whereas the best time for a footballer is between 26 and 32. It’s unusual for clubs to spend so much on players. age if they don’t have money’
‘Every player has complicated moments. I think he’s still a great player. Be a leader in the dressing room. According to what they told me in Barcelona’
‘When you don’t play well You will be criticized easily. But he remains important to Barca and his national team.’
Koeman also discussed Frenkie de Jong’s future at Barcelona and confirmed that if it were him, he would definitely never consider selling the 27-year-old midfielder.
‘I talk to him regularly about many things. And I think he’s happy at Barcelona and he doesn’t want to leave.’
‘Injuries have affected his level over the last few months. Of course, I think he’s not 100 percent ready to play against PSG and Real Madrid in the final games of the season. But he needs time to get back to his best.’