Ronald Koeman has only been on the road as a coach of FC Barcelona for a few months before he has to endure an unprecedented crisis. These are five main problems he is grappling with.
1. Relapse after strong onset
Less than a month ago, FC Barcelona played arguably the best match under Koeman to date. In Turin Juventus was outclassed (0-2) with modern football. Deep players, a high ball pace, immediate pressure when losing the ball and a high intensity.
With those four core values, the former national coach tried to revive the Catalan club. After last summer’s blistering 8-2 defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Barcelona is trying to re-establish itself under Koeman.
But the victory at Juventus turned out not to be the prelude to structural success for the time being. On the contrary. On Saturday against Atlético Madrid (1-0 defeat), Barcelona was trumped by the opponent on all four above-mentioned aspects. The team has the worst start to the season in the Spanish league since 1991 and stands thirteenth, although most other clubs have played one or two more matches.
Whether club icon or not, Koeman also has to achieve results to stay in the saddle. Although it helps the trainer for the time being that some of the problems cannot be blamed on him.
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Lionel Messi made i this seasonn eleven matches exactly one field goal. (Photo: Pro Shots)
2. Messi is not Messi anymore
This movie from the beginning of this month was telling. While a Dynamo Kiev defender crosses the center line with the ball at his feet, Lionel Messi looks on sheepishly from about 5 meters away. The star player could easily disrupt the opponent’s attack build-up, but trudges across the field in a manner that is now characteristic for him.
Koeman also cannot be satisfied with the attacking input of the now 33-year-old Argentinian. The star player scored only one field goal in eleven duels in addition to five penalties.
Under Koeman, Messi has taken on a more central role in the Barcelona team. As number 10 in the 4-2-3-1 system, the star player has to split the game, but he barely succeeds.
Messi’s figures against Atlético are shocking. The intended pivot in the attack game sent only eight passes throughout the match and suffered no fewer than 23 ball losses.
Koeman decided to give Messi, just like Frenkie de Jong, rest for the Champions League game with Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday evening. This way the star players can recover during the busy schedule.
The tricky thing for Koeman is that he can’t push the best player Barcelona ever had towards the exit. He can only hope Messi finds his shape and motivation again. And with regard to the latter, it doesn’t help that Messi was at odds with the club management for a while and wanted to leave last summer.
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Gerard Piqué bites the pain after he sustained a serious knee injury. (Photo: Pro Shots)
3. A laundry list of injuries
Supported by two doctors, Gerard Piqué left the field on Saturday, with his hands over tearful eyes. The images of his folded knee hurt when you looked at it.
Barcelona expects to lose the mainstay for about six months, almost the entire remainder of the season. In the same match, right back Sergi Roberto sustained a muscle injury, leaving him out for two months. Add to that the serious knee injury of super talent Ansu Fati and the injuries of Sergio Busquets, Samuel Umtiti and Ronald Araújo and see the laundry list of injuries that Koeman has to deal with.
With nine games over the next 29 days, there’s no time to rest for the narrow squad. A lot is physically demanded of the players who generally have to rely on their technical qualities.
4. No money for transfers
The selection can be completed in January when the transfer market reopens. Koeman already announced before the loss of Piqué that he wanted an extra central defender, while Orange attacker Memphis Depay is still on the wish list.
But the possibilities to get reinforcements are very limited. Last week it was announced that Barcelona’s turnover has fallen by 300 million due to the corona crisis. And the Spanish League demands that the club cut no less than 191 million euros (40 percent) on the salary budget of the selection. Koeman also seems to have to make do with the belts he has after winter, which would be quite problematic given his injury-thinned selection.
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Victor Font, a leading candidate in the upcoming presidential election. (Photo: Pro Shots)
5. Presidential election is coming
The upcoming presidential election hangs like a sword of Damocles over the future of Barcelona and that of Koeman. The heavily criticized chairman Josep Maria Bartomeu, who appointed Koeman in the summer, resigned in October.
The new presidential election is scheduled for March, but it may be brought forward to January 17, so that the new board can take a new path with the club during the winter transfer period.
Businessman Victor Font is currently the favorite to win the election. He wants to focus on the youth of the club and have important roles on the board and around the first team filled by prominent former players such as Carles Puyol and Victor Valdés.
However, the most important pawn in Font’s plans is Xavi Hernández. The former midfielder is currently trainer of Al Sadd in Qatar and, according to the presidential candidate, should become head coach at Camp Nou.
Font recently announced that Xavi with his “enormous qualities” can also be important in another role within the club. “Koeman can remain a trainer if his results are good.”
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