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Laporta admits Koeman’s dismissal should have been earlier

Joan Laporta and Sergi Barjuan at the presentation of Barça’s new interim coach. | EFE / ENRIC FONTCUBERTA

Joan Laporta, appeared before the media yesterday in the presentation of Sergi Barjuan, Barça’s interim coach after the dismissal of Ronald Koeman last Wednesday when the team stumbled on the Rayo field (1-0). “Possibly the decision to dismiss Koeman came late,” admitted the Barça president, who also explained that “surely he should have decided earlier, but I think he deserved a margin of confidence and to recover the injured.” I take responsibility for the decision.

According to the president, “Koeman has taken office at a very difficult time, he has been a club man and he has also won a Copa del Rey.” Thus, “if it has not continued for a longer time, it is because the results have decided so,” Laporta explained. “Our opinion, shared with the technical management, was that the situation was unsustainable and that if it dragged on we could move away from our goal this season, to win titles,” he said.

Regarding who could be the substitute, with Xavi Hernández in the spotlight, Laporta did not want to say anything: “The rush is not good advice in this type of decision. I will keep the reservation of the options we have because I think we would not act as professionals. But when asked about his opinion of the former Barça captain as coach, he said that “Xavi is in an interesting process, evolving very well” and that he has “very good references” from him. “I talk to him very often, I know perfectly well his opinion on what should be done,” admitted Laporta.

Sergi makes his debut against Alabès

Today, Sergi Barjuan will train for the first time in Barça’s first team in the match against Alabès (9pm, Movistar La Liga). The Vallès coach will have serious problems making his first eleven starters due to the many casualties that the team has accumulated. The most prominent, that of Ansu Fati, who is still having discomfort in his right knee – the unoperated one. Sergi Roberto will not be on the roster due to muscle problems, nor will Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Araujo and Braithwaite be available due to injury, a scenario that would lead the interim coach to bet on the pair of interiors formed by Nico and Pablo Gavi. Ousmane Dembélé on the other hand, had a terrible day. Who could enter the list are the young people of the subsidiary Abde Ezzalzouli and Álvaro Sanz.

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