Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman addresses sack threat as Joan Laporta hunts replacements
La Liga 'lacking star player' after Messi's Barcelona exit
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Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman has said that he does not know what his future holds after yet another setback for the LaLiga club and amid reports that president Joan Laporta is drawing up a list of replacements. Bayern Munich comfortably defeated Barca 3-0 in the clubs’ opening Champions League fixture of the campaign.
Sections of Barca supporters have called for Koeman to be dismissed following a difficult period for the club both on and off the pitch.
Last term, the Catalan side suffered their worst league finish since 2008. Barca came third in LaLiga.
The club then endured a difficult summer, in which a couple of key stars were forced to leave due to huge debts. The most high-profile was the departure of the iconic forward Lionel Messi.
Antoine Griezmann also returned the LaLiga title rivals Atletico Madrid. The likes of Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets accepted wage cuts so that new signings could be registered.
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Koeman’s side remain undefeated in their domestic competitions but were humbled by Bayern in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Dutchman has said that he is unaware that he is close to losing his job.
“I don’t know if my position is at stake because they haven’t said anything. The only thing is to think about the game and the team,” Koeman told journalists.
“The rest is not in my hands and I am calm. We have seven points from three games.
“You have to get people back to have more players available, but you have to win. In the end the results count and nothing else. I have no fear of my future.
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“In the end the club decides in the name of the president.
“Everyone has the right to give their opinion. There will be people for and against Ronald Koeman. I’m not talking about them.
“There are people who want me to continue as a coach and others who think that Barcelona is looking for a new one.”
Koeman’s admission comes as reports suggest president Laporta has five candidates to replace Koeman. Spanish outlet BTV Esports has revealed the list, which includes a couple of club icons.
The first is Jordi Cruyff, the son of Johan, who is the club’s sporting advisor and leads the scouting department.
Another is B team coach Sergi Barjaun. The report continues that he would be the easiest to appoint because there would be no cost to appoint the 49-year-old.
Henrik Larsson and Xavi Hernandez are apparently also being considered. The fifth name is Erik ten Haag, the Ajax head coach whose philosophy is regarded as being similar to that of Johan Cruyff.
However, Ten Haag would be the hardest coach to appoint due to the huge compensation cost of prising him away from Ajax.
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