Ronald Koeman provides half-hearted response to Barcelona sack rumours

La Liga 'lacking star player' after Messi's Barcelona exit

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Ronald Koeman has provided a half-hearted response to rumours linking him with the sack at Barcelona. The Dutchman has come under increasing pressure for a run of poor results for the Catalan giants, with a Champions League defeat to Benfica being the latest low point.

Barca were humiliated in Portugal, with the hosts running out comfortable 3-0 winners and Koeman’s side seeing Eric Garica sent off.

Koeman’s post is becoming increasingly untenable, with club president Joan Laporta recently launching a war of words with his manager.

Roberto Martinez and Xavi are the two favourites to replace him, though Koeman has remained defiant in the face of the increasing pressure.

Despite the defeat to Benfica, which leaves them bottom of their Champions League group, Koeman is still in his post.

His task shows no sign of getting easier, with Barca’s next outing being a visit to reigning La Liga champions Atletico Madrid.

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Barcelona are currently sixth in the Spanish top-flight, having won three and drawn three of their opening games.

And Koeman insists that he will remain at the club, revealing he did not speak to Laporta ahead of his pre-match press conference on Friday morning.

“I’m still staying, yes,” he laughed in response to one question about his future.

“I know that it always depends on the results; it is the most normal thing. My intention is to follow the plan. The club has not told me anything.

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“The club hasn’t told me anything. The president was here this morning but I haven’t seen him. I know things have been leaked and probably they are true. But he hasn’t told me anything.”

The problem for Barcelona appears to be a matter of finances, with the club unable to pay off Koeman’s salary.

For his part, the under-fire Barca boss insisted that his plan is the right one to follow, stating that he has grown tired of defending himself to his critics.

“We have to continue working as we are doing, changing things in the team,” Koeman said.

“We finished the game with many young players, we are going to recover important people in the attack.

“We must follow this plan regardless of the results. I am tired of defending myself. We have done important things, we have had and assumed changes in the club.

“I would like to speak one day and speak well about what I think. I don’t know if another coach would do better. I don’t know. The squad is the one we have.

“We always talk about the system but the system is created by the type of players and if you don’t have wingers you have to look for full-backs.”
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