Barcelona replacing Ronald Koeman seems imminent now, and the situation is very unlikely to improve after the amount of tension that has been generated at the club. In this article, we’ll look at the different reasons that have led to the difficult situation for the Dutchman right now.
Not supporting the players
Koeman has not held back from pointing out that the players he has right now are not the same as the ones from a decade ago. While that is no doubt true, his defeatist attitude and overall lack of support for his own players is one of the main reasons that has earned him so much spite from the fans.
“We also have to demand more from the players, in the first goal we can’t let the opposing player enter so easily, the Barcelona of today is not the one of eight years ago,” he said.
He has called out players for missed chances and poor performances, and that has diminished the overall attitude of the players in the locker room.
Unsuccessful gambles
This summer, Luuk De Jong was brought in to replace Antoine Griezmann, who returned to Atletico Madrid. Lionel Messi and Emerson Royal were also sold this summer to free up the wage bill. On the pitch, Koeman played Eric Garcia as a right-back against Benfica, and they ended up losing 3-0. While he fixed the error later, the damage could not be undone.
Luuk De Jong has not offered the quality that Koeman hoped he would bring to the club, but the manager continues to play him. On the other hand, the lack of minutes for Riqui Puig is also another reason behind his plight at Camp Nou right now.
Tensions with the management
Koeman does not have the full support of Joan Laporta, and that is one of the main reasons why he will inevitably be sacked. He has been encouraged to play the likes of Riqui Puig and Samuel Umtiti, but the coach has decided against it.
Ronald Koeman: “I feel supported, very supported by my players here at Barcelona. And by the club? I don’t know…”. 🚫 #FCB #Barça pic.twitter.com/QaDUbtouFc
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 29, 2021
The inconsistent start to the league and to the Champions League has resulted in the management failing to see why they can support Koeman. And as a result, he is on the verge of being replaced.
