Welcome home: All hopes rest in Barcelona on the returnee Ronald Koeman, including President Josep Maria Bartomeu (right).
Image: Reuters
Coach Ronald Koeman faces an almost impossible task. He is supposed to lead the aging FC Barcelona out of the crisis, but the coffers are empty and everything depends on Messi. How is that supposed to work?
Ronald Koeman knows his way around Spain. For six years, from 1989 to 1995, he was the toughest sweeper at FC Barcelona. In 1992 he decided with a hard shot to 1-0 against Sampdoria Genoa the last final in the old European Cup for Barcelona. Perhaps he will remember a popular Spanish saying these days: “Where the sailor is in charge, the captain has nothing to report.” Koeman is now confronted with such hierarchical problems as FC Barcelona coach. When he was presented in the club’s press room, a journalist asked: “How are you going to seduce Messi in order to convince him of your ideas?”
President Josep Maria Bartomeu commissioned him to renew the team, to get it under control and to make far-reaching personnel decisions. And now he should first convince the captain? Koeman had to sort out a little. “I don’t know if I have to convince Messi,” he said. Of course, he will speak to Messi that the Argentine is the world’s best player that every coach wants on his team. Other FC Barcelona trainers have had problems with the pecking order.
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